/i. 



AN EPITOME 

OF 

UNIVERSAL HISTOEY, 

IN VERSE. 

DESiaNED EXPEESSLY FOE THE YOUNG, 

AEEANGED UPON A PLAN APFORDING- ASSISTANCE TO MEMOEY_, WITH 

MARGINAL DATES^ AND AN INDEX TO THE MOST IMPORTANT 

CHAEACTEES AND EVENTS IN THE HISTOET 

OP THE WORLD 



BY 

ALFEED H. EJ^GELBACH. 



LO^-DON": 
GEOOMBEIDQE AND SONS, PATERNOSTEE EOW. 

MDCCCLXII. 



-ES. 



HAEKILD, p«^^!(JeR, LONDOI^. 



•7 ' j 3 ^^ 



PREFACE. 



History^ not Poetry^ has been the Autlior^s object in tMs 
epitome : it does not aspire to tlie rank of Poems from His- 
tory ; it is simply History in Yerse. 

It is written expressly for the young, and is designed to 
fta-nish the means either of committing to memory, of at 
least of impressing more forcibly on the mind, the chief 
historical events and characters presenting themselves in 
the course of ordinary and more detailed study. 

In carrying out this design, the Author has endeavoured 
to keep the following ends in view : — 

1. To present to his young readers a summary of uni- 
versal history, in which they might be imperceptibly led to 
recognize all nations as one great family, scattered indeed 
over the face of the earth, yet ever acting in subservience 
to the will and designs of the Father and Creator of all. 

2. To interweave throughout some thoughts of holy 
things, and some simple and even trite reflections, such as 
may commend themselves to a youthful mind ; so as to lead 
the reader beyond the dry region of mere facts and dates 
and even mere worldly consequences, to which school his- 
tories are too often Hmited. 



IV PREEACE. 



3. To lead young minds to form just estimates of the 
chief characters in history^ and thus to guard them against 
the too common error of confounding mere celebrity with 
true greatness. 

4. To introduce occasional sketches of the contemporary 
history of various states,, so as to convey some vivid impres- 
sions of the relative epochs of their rise and fall. 

It has been sought^ by means of frequent changes in the 
metre^ and by the subdivision of the work into sections of 
no great length (many, indeed^ sufficiently short to be learned 
by heart) J to give the volume a character as light and attrac- 
tive as possible, and thus to amuse as well as to instruct. 

The insertion, in a margin specially appropriated for the 
purpose, of nearly a thousand dates, carefully selected and 
revised, may give the work an additional claim to usefulness, 
where more elaborate books of reference may not be at 
hand. 

The table of contents will serve to indicate the general 
aim and extent of the work; and although differences of 
opinion must necessarily exist upon such a point as the 
selection of subjects sufficiently important to claim a place 
in a field hmited to the compass of some 300 pages, it is 
hoped that the care and thought bestowed upon this point 
have at least prevented the omission of any events, which 
can claim to be of paramount importance in the history of 
the world. 

London, 8e])tember, 1862. 



CONTENTS, 



Introduction ... 

PAET I. 
The First Foiar Thoxisand 

Tears 
The First Thousand . 
The Second Thousand . 

The Flood . 

The Dispersion 
The Third Thousand . 

Abraham 

Israel in Egypt 

The Promised Land 
The Fourth Thousand . 

Judah and Israel . 

Persia and Greece . 

Greece and Eome . 
Darius .... 
The Four Kingdoms of Daniel 



PAET n. 

ANCIENT GREECE. 

The Mythic Age . 
States of Greece . 



PAGE 




IX. 


15 




16 




17 




18 


8 


19 


5 


20 


6 


21 


^6. 


22 


ih. 




8 


23 


it. 




9 


24 


10 


25 


13 




ih. 


26 


16 


27 


17 


28 


19 


29 


20 


30 




31 




32 




33 




34 




35 


27 


36 


28 


37 



Athens. Early Times . 
Pisistratus 
The Pisistratidse • 
The Persian Invasions 
Pericles . 

Sparta. Early Days . 
The Messenian Wars 

The First Peloponnesian 
War .... 

The Second Peloponnesian 
War .... 

Alcibiades . 

The Eetreat of the Ten Thou, 
sand .... 

Thrasybulus 

Agesilaus 

Thebes 

Leuctra 

Epaminondas 

Philip of Macedon 

Alexander the Great . 
Greece . 

The March to Egypt 
Persia and the East 
The Last Tears . 

The Fate of Greece 

Earthly Light 



29 
30 
ih. 
31 
33 
35 

36 

37 

40 

42 
43 
ih. 
45 
46 
ih. 
48 
52 
ih. 
54 
55 
56 
58 
ih. 



vi CONTENTS. 






PAGE 






PAGK 




PAET III. 




64 


The First Century 

The Promised Seed ; Per- 


97 




ANCIENT ROME. 






secutions ; Rome ; Her- 




38 


^neas ..... 


65 




mann; Judasa; Britain. 




39 


EomulTis and Eemus . 


66 


65 


The Second Century . 


99 


40 


Kings of Rome . 


67 




Rome; Persecutions 




41 


Constils .... 


71 


66 


The Third Century . 


100 


42 


The Wars of the Tarquins : 


ih. 




Rome ; Palmyra ; Inroads 




43 


Coriolamis .... 


n 




of Barbarians. 




44 


Cinciimatus ; . . . 


ih. 


67 


The Fourth Century . 


101 


45 


The Laws of the Twelve 






Constantine ; Christian 






Tables . . ■. 


73 




Rome; The Church; 




46 


Yirginius .... 


ih. 




The Eastern and West- 




47 


New Forms of Government . 


74 




ern Empires; The Bar- 




48 


Camillns .... 


ih. 




barians; Goths and 




49 


Marcns Cnrtiiis 


76 




Huns. 




50 


Pyrrhus .... 


ih. 


68 


The Fifth Century 


104 


51 


The First Piinic War . 


77 




Fan of Rome; Britain 




52 


The Second Pimic War 


78 




and the Saxons; The 




53 


Syracuse and Syria 


80 




Church; Attila; The 




54 


The Third Punic War . 


81 




Huns checked at Cha- 




55 


The Gracchi 


82 




lons. 




56 


Spain and Greece 


83 


69 


The Sisth Century 


107 


57 


Marius and Sylla . 


84 




The Heptarchy; Augus- 




58 


Pompey and Crassus . 


85 




tine's Work ; The East- 




59 


Julius Caesar 


ih. 




ern Empire; Justinian 




60 


The Second Trinmvirate 


88 




and Belisarius ; The 




61 


Decline and Fall . 


89 




Lombards. 




62 


The Roman Emperors . 
PART IV. 


90 


70 


The Seventh Century . 
Chosroes and Herachus; 
Mahomet ; Progress of 
the Gospel. 


110 




THE FIFTH THOUSAND 




71 


The Eighth Century . 
The Saracens stayed ; 


113 




YEARS. 






The Church ; The Car- 




63 


The Light of the World 


95 




lovingians ; Civiliza- 





CONTENTS. Vii 






PAGE 






PAGE 




tion ; Papal Influence ; 




85 


Italy 


168 




The Battle of Tours j 




86 


Asiatic Conquest . 


172 




Cliarleniagne. 




87 


Discovery .... 


176 


72 


The Ninth Century . 


120 


88 


The French Eevolution : 






The Inroads of the North- 






1. Causes 


179 




men; Britain; Saxon 






2. The States General . 


180 




"Kings; Papal Eome; 






3. The National Assem- 






Darkness of the 






bly . . . . 


181 




Church; The Chain of 






4. The Legislative As- 






Witnesses. 






sembly . 


183 


73 


The Tenth Century . 


123 




5. The National Con- 






New Monarchies; Ger- 






vention . 


186 




many; Superstitions. 






6. The Eeign of Terror 

7. The Directory . 


187 
188 










8. The Consulate . 

9. The Empire . 


190 
191 




PAET V. 






10. The Hundred Days . 


194 




THE SIXTH THOUSAND 












YEAES. 






PAET VI. 




74 


The Crusades 


129 




ENGLISH HISTOEY. 




75 


France Conquered and Lost . 


185 








76 


Printing .... 


138 


89 


Ancient Britons . 


197 


77 


The Eefomiation : 




90 


The Eomans .... 


ih. 




1. The Darkness . 


140 


91 


The Saxon Heptarchy . 


198 




2. The Dawn 


142 


92 


Saxon Kings 


199 




3. The Daylight . 


146 


93 


Saxons, Danes, Normans 


201 


78 


The Ma^ssacre of St. Bartho- 




94 


The Battle of Hastings 


203 




lomew .... 


152 


95 


Stephen and Maud 


212 


79 


The Thirty Years' War 


154 


96 


Henry the Third . 


214 


80 


Louis Quatorze . 


157 


97 


Edward the First . 


215 


81 


The War of the Spanish 




98 


The Black Prince. 


216 




Succession 


159 


99 


The Wars of the Eoses 


217 


82 


Narva and Pultowa 


162 


100 


The Eeformation in England 


219 


83 


The Seven Years' War 


165 


101 


Charles the First . 


221 


84 



American Independence 


ih. 


102 


The Eestoration . 


223 



CONTENTS. 



103 

104 
105 
106 
107 



108 

109 
110 
111 
112 
113 
114 
115 



The Eye-House Plot 
Monmoutli's EebeUion 
The Seven Bishops 
The B.evohition . 
England's Liberties 



PAET YII. 

ENGLAND'S VICTORIES, 

The Giver of Victory 
The Armada 
Rodney's Victory , 
Howe's Victory , 
St. Vincent . 
Oamperdown 
The Nile 



PAGE 




224 


116 


225 


117 


226 


118 


227 


119 


229 






120 




121 




122 


233 


123 


239 


124 


240 


125 


241 


126 


243 




245 




247 




248 





Nelson at Copenhagen . 
Trafalgar .... 
Copenhagen in 1807 
The "Shannon" and the 



Algiers . . . , 
Wellington : 

Early Career — India 

The Peninsula . 

The Pyrenees . 

Quatre-Bras 

Waterloo . 

The Statesman . 

Conclusion . 



PAGE 

251 
254. 
255 

256 
260 

261 
263 



272 
275 

284 

287 



Index 



INTRODUCTION. 



Great, striking epoclis, borne in mind, 
Serve as the readiest helps to find 
Sncli others as we know have been 
Before them, after, or between. 

Like beacons in a wide-spread view. 
History has its landmarks too, 
Which, well remembered, help to trace 
The changeful annals of our race. 

If thou wonldst truly profit by the page 
That tells the history of any age. 
Scripture alone supphes thee with a key 
Unlocking much that else were mystery. 
Mark well two wondrous truths pervading all 
The Fall of all mankind in Adam's fall ; 
And then the fulness of Redeendng Grace 
In One Atonement made for all the race. 
For aU ! In God's good promise of the Seed 
No bound or limit do we find decreed ; 



INTRODUCTION. 



N"or is it said some only should be blest 
In that Great Promise, leaving out the rest. 
It is not ours to scan the mysteries 
Of Grod, or fathom all His great decrees ; 
To know why many nations of the earth, 
Before or after the Redeemer's birth, 
Have risen up, and lived, and pass'd away 
Without the cheering light of Gospel day. 
God gave a law within themselves to them ; 
A law to justify them, or condemn. 
Before His Judgment-seat. Let us adore 
The love and mercy that have set before 
Our eyes a prospect of the life to come. 
Which His sure wisdom has denied to some. 
What would it profit if we were to know 
Whether a Pericles or Cicero — 
Men of high intellect, whose fame survives 
To testify to moral heathen lives — 
Is saved or not ? But it will profit us 
To mark their actions and their words and 

thus 
Gaiu earthly knowledge and experience. 
By which we may increase our influence 
For good on those around us. Here we see 
One chiefest use in studying History. 
But if the liistory of man betrays 
Some traces of the Fall in aU his ways, 



INTRODUCTION. 



Those ways invisibly but surely tend, 
Beneath God's sov'reign sway, to one great end- 
Man's rescue from the Fall, — and thus foMl, 
By paths unknown to us. His holy will : 
Famine and fire and pestilence and sword 
Together work for those who fear the Lord. 
Then let us, as we read, bear well in mind, 
How ev'ry race of this our fallen kind. 
Whether or not they know Jehovah, still 
Act only in subservience to His will ; 
That every human soul, — as Scripture proves, — 
E'en though unknowingly, yet lives, and moves, 
And has its being, in the all ruling Lord, 
Whether or not it has received the Word. 
Yiew all as one great scheme, one mighty plan, 
Its scope the Fall and Raising-up of Man, — 
Each race and nation, ay, each single soul, 
Contributing to this most wondrous whole. 
If thus we read aright, the history 
Of man is that of one great family, 
Spread o'er the world, and scatter'd all abroad,*) 
Yet all pursuing one eventful road r 

That ends at last before the throne of God. ^ 
And thou art one of this same family, — 
Koble or lowly as thy rank may be, — 
An object of His love. Take warning then 
By what thou readest of thy fellow men. 



INTEODTJCTION. 



Learn to avoid their faults, and imitate 

The actions that have made them truly great. 

For aught thou knowest, God may give to thee 

Hereafter some important destiny, 

In which thou mayst be called to play a part 

In this world's history. Train then thy heart 

And mind in ways of holiness and love. 

That, whatsoe'er thy mission from above, 

In humble life or lofty station cast, 

Thou fail not to obtain that Crown at last, 

Assured to those alone that fight the fight. 

And run their course as Children of the Light. 



PART THE FIRST. 



THE FIEST FOUR THOUSAND TEAES. 



B.C. 


THE FIEST FOUR THOUSAIsD TEARS. 3 




1. THE FIEST FOUE THOUSAND 




YEAES. 




1 

Four thousand years liad roll'd away 


4004. 


Since Adam sprang from eartli, 




Before that great eventful day 




That saw the Saviour's birth. 




A race of long-liv'd Patriarchs 




First on the scene appears ; 


2948. 


And well the birth of JS'oah marks 




The first full thousand years. 




The flood has pass'd, and overthrown I 




Is Babel's tow'r of scorn : 




The second thousand years are flown, 


1998. 


And Abraha,Tn is born. 

j 




1 
Three thousand years are past and gone, i 




And God's own Word relates 




How, lowly kneeling, Solomon 


1004. 


His temple dedicates. 




Four thousand years and four have pass'd, 




W hen angel hosts by night 




Proclaim the Saviour come at last 


' 


To give us life and light. 



B.C. 



4 



EPTTOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Mark, as thou readest on, how all things prove 
That nothing could suffice except the plan 

Design' d by God, in mercy and in love, 
To rescue from the Fall the race of man. 

Man, in his first estate of innocence, 

Was tried in Eden by the Lord, and fail'd ; 

The serpent's cunning, and the influence 
Of appetite for earthly things prevail'd. 

How God conversed with man from Adam's time 
To that of I^^oah, we have not been told ; 

How soon the world was overspread with crime 
In the avenging Plood we may behold. 

God chose a favour'd race, to whom He gave 
A perfect law, revealing His commands ; 

Perfect, yet ineffectual to save. 

As Judah to this day a witness stands. 

Then in the light of intellect alone 

Full many a nation of the earth was train 'd ; 

In Greece and Rome supremely bright it shone. 
But mark what fearful moral darkness reign' d. 

And last of all, God gave His own dear Son 
To die for us, that we through Him might live, 

To make us with our God once more at one, — 
And an ensample for our lives to give. 

Mark, as thou readest on, all history 
To thee is useless, if thou fail to trace 

Some message sent from heav'n direct to thee. 
In many a record of thy fallen race. 



B.C. 


THE FIRST FOUR THOUSAND TEARS. 5 




2. THE FIRST THOUSAND YEAES. 




The first nullennial period claims 




Its list of patriarclial names. 


4004. 


Of Adam and the Fall we read, 




And Grod's great promise of tlie Seed, 




Which, when four thousand years had fled, 




Came forth to bruise the serpent's head. 




The curse on man was first fulfilled : 


dbt. 3875. 


We read of righteous Abel killed ; 




Of the posterity of Cain ; 




Of Lamech, who a man had slain ; 




Jubal, who first of music thought, 




And Tubal Cain, who metals wrought ; 


h. 3874. 


Of children sprung from holy Seth ; 


3017. 


Enoch, translated free from death ; 


d. 2349. 


And old Methuselah, who ran 




The longest course ascribed to man. 


h. 2948. 


To Koah's birth we come at last, 




And lo ! a thousand years have pass'd. 


• . .i 



B.C. 


6 EPITOME OF TJNIYEESAL HISTORY. 


i 


THE SECOJSTD THOUSAJSTD YEAES. 




3. THE FLOOD. 




The second period displays 




Man wholly giv'n to evil ways ; 




Yet to be holy IS'oah dared, 




And eight of all mankind were spared. 




In vain he preach'd to deafen'd ears ; 




Sixteen hundred and sixty years 




This fair and lovely world was old, 


2349. 


When over it the Deluge roll'd. 




4. THE dispersio:n-. 


2348. 


Yet scarcely had the waters dried, 




W hen man returned to sin and pride. 


alt. 2247. 


Now Babel's tower arose on high. 




As though God's judgments to defy. 




And curb His power with human bounds ; 




But lo ! their language He confounds ; 




And o'er the world to find a home, 




Noah's descendants quickly roam. 




Shem's sons to Asia turn'd their face, 




And founded each Semitic race ; 




Westward the sons of Japheth bent 



B.C. 



THE FTEST FOUR THOUSAND TEARS. 



Their steps, and into Europe went ; 
Africa, witli its burning sun, 
By sons of Ham was overrun. 
And still each naked slave attests 
The changeless truth of God's behests. 
And even now, we still can trace, 
Some names of that primeval race ; 
The Muscovite thus Meshech founds, 
■ And Javan iD Ionia sounds ; 
From Asshur proud Assyria came ; 
Lud to the Lydians gave a name ; 
Tiras in Thrace we plainly see, 
And Gomer's name in Germany. 
But God's unchanging purpose had decreed 
From Abraham should come the promised seed. 
So, as the sacred histories disclose, 

aht. 2234. Whilst proud Assyi-ia first of empires rose, 

Whilst Mmrod from his own first settlement 
At Babylon, to conquer Asshur's went, 

aht. 2233. (Babylon, first new city built by man). 

And, in the plains where mighty TigTis ran, 
Built Nineveh, whose pow'r, as time roll'd on, 
2059. Ninus united with great Babylon, — 

The sires of holy Abram's chosen race. 
Safe in Chaldea found a dwelling-place. 



B.C. 



EPITOME OP UNIVEESAL HISTOEY. 



THE THIRD THOUSAND YEAES. 



5. ABRAHAM. 



1996. 



alt. 1897 



aU. 1897. 



1871. 



Two thousand years and eiglit liad roll'd away, 
When Abram first beheld the light of day : — 
Abram, to whom God gave the glorious name 
Of Abraham, in token of his claim 
Under the covenant with him renew' d. 
To be the father of a multitude. 
And amongst them, of that great promised seed- 
Abraham, who with God once dared to plead 
For those unhallow'd cities of the plain, 
And whose bold pleading had not been in vain 
Had but ten righteous souls been found therein 
Amidst so many thousands steep'd in sin — 
Abraham, father of the faithful styled, 
Ready to give to God the one loved child 
In whom his aged eyes had hope to see 
The father of that great posterity. 
He stagger'd not in faith, but kiss'd the rod. 
And won the title of the Friend of God. 
Ah ! well may he as our example serve, 
When from obedience or from faith we swerve. 



B.C. 


THE FIEST FOUR THOUSAND TEAES. 9 




6. ISRAEL IN EGYPT. 


5.1896. J.1837 


And Isaac then, and Jacob next, 




Fumisli^l many a glorious text. 


S.1745, d.lGdb 


And Joseph too ; yet why relate 




The story of his changeful fate ? 




In God's own book it forms a tale, 




Whose interest can never fail. 


1729. 


Sold into Egypt, he but served 




God's stedfast purpose, and preserved 




Ah've the race of Israel. \ 




And next the sacred pages tell [ 




How for two centuries they dwell ) 




In Egypt, till a Pharaoh rose. 


aht. 1577. 


Who heavy tasks upon them throws. 




God's chosen people, sore oppress'd, 




Cry not in vain for help and rest. 


1571. 


Lo ! Moses' mother the stern edict braves, 




And Pharaoh's daughter soon the infant saves. 




In Pharaoh's palace well in learning train'd, 


1531. 


Moses had forty years of age attain'd, 




When the Egyptian taskmaster he slew, 




And then into the wilderness withdrew. 




There, train'd by God, he passes forty years, 


1491. 


And then once more in Egypt reappears. 




See ! before Pharaoh he and Aaron stand, 




And ask to lead God's people from the land. 




But Pharaoh will not let the people go. 




And plagnies and wonders in the land they show, 




Each one exalting the Lord God of hosts 




Above the idols of which Egypt boasts. 



B.C. 



10 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTOET. 



At length, tlie first-born die : in fear and doubt 
Wbat next may come, King Pbaraoli drives them 

out. 
Two thousand and five hundred and thirteen 
Eventful years this mortal ^orld had seen, 
When Moses lifted up that wond'rous rod, 

1491. And through the sea God's people went dry 
shod. 
Then forty years through the bare wilderness 
They roam, ere they the promised land possess, 
Because they hearken'd to the faithless spies ; 

1451. Then in full sight of it meek Moses dies ; 

And Joshua then, at God's divine command, 

1451. Brings them in triumph to the promised land. 

They bore with them from Sinai's mount of awe, 

Jehovah's great commandments, and the law, 

That God, through Moses, to His people gave ; 

A law all powerless indeed to save. 

But which for His great purposes suflS.ced, 

A schoolmaster to bring men unto Christ. 



7. THE PROMISED LAND. 



till 1095. Pour centuries of Judges then succeed, 
356 years. In which the chosen people have to fight 

Long murd'rous wars in their attempts to weed 
Out of the land the heathen Canaanite. 
Now mighty men, stout both of heart and hand, 
Arose as Judges in the Holy Land. 



.0. 



THE FIRST FOUR THOUSAND TEARS. 



11 



1405. -) 
1336. [• 
1325.) 
1285. 
1245. 

alt, 1187. 

alt. 1136. 
1156. d. 1116 

alt. 1141. 



1095. 

anointed 
1095,1063. 



1015 
fo 
975. 



Full oft tkej tnm'd war's fierce and fitful tide, 
And liumbled Amnion's and Philistia's pride. 

Then Otliniel, Ehud, Shamgar, play their part, 

And Deborah, of bold and manly heart ; 

Gideon, doubting first, bnt brave and true ; 

Jephthah, who rashly vows, but keeps his vows ; 

Samson the mighty, who his thousands slew ; 

Eli, who meekly to his sentence bows ; 

And lastly, Samuel call'd in childhood's days 

Holy, and wise, and just in all his ways ; 

Yet to the winds the thankless nation flings 

Its sworn allegiance to the King of kings. 

And seeks its heav'nly Master to supplant ; 

It is an earthly monarch that they want. 

Grod hears them, and refuses not their wish, 

And Samuel then anoints the son of Eash. 

The lives of Saul and David, so replete 

With interest, we need not here repeat. 

Full many a page were needful to relate. 

Even in outline, their eventful fate. 

Gro to the sacred pages, they unfold 

A wond'rous tale, how marvellously told ! 

Suffice it that in their successive reigns 

Increasing strength the favour 'd nation gains. 

Till in the reign of Solomon at last. 

Its wealth and splendour could not be surpass'd 

By aught that then was known upon the earth. 

But what at best is earthly grandeur worth ? 

Wise Solomon confesses, ere he dies. 

That all is vanity of vanities. 

But yet, before his earthly course was run, 



B.C. 



12 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTOEY. 



One great and noble work at least was done : 
He built a temple to the Holy One, 
Where the Shechinah, glorious, pure, and bright, 
Jehovah, symbolized in wond'rous light, 
1004. Between the golden cherubim appear. 

And lo ! the world has lived three thousand years. 



B.C. 



THE FIEST FOUE THOUSAND YEAES. 



13 



975. 



726 to 698. 



alt. 906. 
896. 



THE FOUETH THOUSAND 
YEAES. 



8. JtTDAH AND ISRAEL. 

"When Solomon had pass'd away, in E/ehoboam's 

reign, 
Ten of the tribes revolted, and thus rent the realm 

in twain ; 
And Israel at Samaria had monarchs of its own, 
N'ow waging war, and now at peace, with those on 

Judah's throne. 
Too many vile and wicked kings those rival thrones 

possess'd ; 
But those who govern'd Judah must be counted 

far the best. 
Amongst those true to God was Hezekiah, greatly 

bless'd. 
And mighty prophets now arose, holy and full of 

grace, 
To cast down Baal's altars, and to warn the chosen 

race: 
For still the stubborn Israelites to heathen idols 

tum'd. 
And worshipp'd in the groves, and stiU their babes 

to Moloch burn'd. 
Elijah on the priests of Baal wreaks his holy ire, 
And up to heaven is taken in a chariot of fire. 



B.C. 



14 



EPITOME OE UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 



alt. 758 1o 
713 or 697. 



725. 



7210/722. 



6C8. 



Then on Elisha, Shapliat's son, the prophet's 

mantle fell, 
Isaiah and full many more the coming wrath fore- 
tell. 
Yet not of wrath alone they tell, but visions pure 

and bright, 
Of that great coming King, the glorious Lord of 

Life and Light. ■ 
Alas, they would not hearken, they believ'd not 

the report ; 
For man is ever loth to think his days may be cut 

short. 
From Nineveh and Babylon came God's chastising 

stroke, 
And Israel, first, was doom'd to feel a captive's 

gaU-ing yoke. 
Hoshea, last of all her kings attempting to evade 
The tribute, which, till then, to proud Assyria he 

had paid, 
Is swept by Shalmaneser into Media's sultry plains. 
With all the House of Israel, to captivity and 

chains. 
From that eventful day, B.C. sev'n hundred twenty- 
two, 
Ke'er did the tribes of Israel reappearto human view. 
'For upwards of a century may Judah yet be spar'd, 
But chastisement as sure, tho' not so lasting, is 

prepar'd. 
Lo ! Judah into bondage next, Nebuchadnezzar 

sweeps. 
By Babylon's proud waters, sev'nty years the 

captive weeps, 



B.C. 



THE FIEST FOUR THOUSAND YEARS. 



15 



536. 



520. 



166, 15. 

332. 
63. 

reb. 445. 
18. 



Till Cyrus, in five thirty-six, releas'd and sent 

tliem back. 
When Babylon had fall'n in turn, on Cyrus's attack. 
Zerubbabel soon hastens to rebuild the sacred fane. 
But never more what once was there, the Temple 

shall contain. 
The glorious Shechinah to that Temple ne'er 

returned. 
Gone are the Ark, and holy fire with which the 

ofi''ring burn'd ; 
Urim and Thummim, too, are gone, and mute the 

priest stands by. 
Fled from the Holy Temple is the giffc of prophecy. 
Yet Judah'srace for centuries remain'd anation still. 
Humbled or spar'd by conquerors at pleasure and 

at will, 
Although its ancient courage was not wholly lost 

or gone ; 
And brightly once again in Judas Maccabeus shone. 
Great Alexander, fear'd and spay?'d when he could 

have destroy'd, 
And safety at the victor's hands Jerusalem enjoy 'd; 
But Pompey, less magnanimous, the blood of 

Judah spilt. 
And batter' d down the walls that N'ehemiah had 

rebuilt. 
Another Temple* yet arose ; within its walls the 

Lord 
Gave forth to deaf unwilling ears his pure and 

holy Word. 

* Herod enlarged, or rather rebuilt, the Temple between 
the years 18 and 8 B.C. 



A.D. 


16 EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 




Once more the Light of Griory sHnes within its 




sacred walls, 




Once more God's people hear the Word, before 




the Temple falls. 


70. 


Titus, at last, was destin'd to destroy the sacred 




fane; 




From that disastrous fatal day, Judah ne'er rose 




. again. 




9. PERSIA AKD GREECE. 




But in that fourth millennial space 




Of other realms we read 




Besides the great and chosen race 




That nursed the promis'd seed. 


B.C. 


Whilst Judah wept at Babylon 


538. 


, B.C. five thirty-eight, 




Erom Cyrus, the predicted one. 




Babylon met its fate. 




And after him twelve monarchs more 




The Persian sceptre wield ; 




Soon they invade the Grecian shore, 




But Greece disdains to yield. 




The might that conquer'd Babylon 




To Grecia now gives way. 


480, 490. 


From Salamis and Marathon, 




Recoiling in dismay. 



B.C. 


THE FIEST FOUR THOUSAND TEARS. 17 


443. 


Greece, soon the mistress of tlie seas, 
Grrows stronger every hour. 

Four forty-three finds Pericles 
At Athens, high in pow'r. 


359 to 336. 
331. 


A hundred years, and Phih'p reigns 

Kling over Macedon ; 
Then Persia on Arbela's plains. 

Falls vanquish'd by his son. 




Yet as some conquering warrior dies 
^ Just as the fight is won, 
"With Alexander's victories 
Sets Grecia's glorious sun. 




Or like two coursers in the race 
Whom noble ardour fires, 

One wins at last the foremost place, 
And at the goal expires. 




10. GREECE Al^D ROME. 




But whilst these haughty rival states 

For chief dominion fight, 
Rome, her approaching day awaits 

And rises to her height. 




Mark well how Greece and Rome had, side by side. 
Been borne along on Time's advancing tide. 


753. 


More than a century before the date 

When Romulus first form'd the Roman State, 



B.C. 



18 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



aht. 884. 

640. 

alt. 624. 

ace. 560, c?. 527 

510. 



449. 
443. 
443. 



360. 



336 to 323. 



Lycurgus, skilful in the arts of peace, 
Framed his ascetic laws for Southern Greece. 

The year that saw Rome's diadem adorn 
The brow of Ancus, saw wise Solon born. 
Solon was yet a youth when Draco made 
His cruel laws, which Grreece not long obey'd. 

Contemporary with Pisistratns 
Was Servius Tullins, Eang of Rome ; and thus 
To Hippias, driv'n from Athens, next we come, 
The year that Tarquin was ex^ll'd from Rome. 

Just six years from Virginia's death, the year 
When the two censors first in Rome appear, 
Great Pericles supreme at Athens reigned, 
And Grecian art its highest point attaiu'd ; 
And glorious works of Phidias, at this day 
The triumph of the sculptor's art display. 

Camillus had rebuilt Rome's shatter'd walls — 
Ahala's sword was vanquishing the Gauls, 
Just before Philip, King of Macedon, 
Began his conquering career to run. 

The splendid empire Alexander bought 

With blood, whilst Rome against the Samnites 

fought, 
Cast Rome into the shade, but not for long — 
A fabric rear'd in haste is seldom strong. 
Scarcely had Alexander pass'd away 
When Greece became the Roman eagle's prey. 



B.C. 



THE FIRST FOUR THOUSAND TEARS. 



19 



146. Tlien Cartilage fell ; and then, from hour to hour, 

Rome conquer' d on, increasing still in power, 
Till, with the Ceesars seated on the throne. 
She seem'd to call the whole wide world her own ; 
Thus, when the Lord of Life was doom'd to die, 
*' We have no king but Oassar," was the cry. 

And lo ! at length fonr thousand years had pass'd ; 
Four more, behold the day-spring from on high. 
Say, canst thou tell how long the world shall last? 
Perhaps the end may even now be nigh. 
Then turn thee humbly to the Lord, and pray 
For saving grace, while yet 'tis call'd to-day ; 
Then when this earth shall melt with fervent heat. 
Thou in the air thy risen Lord shalt meet, 
And find He hath prepared for thee a place 
To dwell with Him for ever, face to face. 



11. DARIUS. 

Four monarchs, named Darius, in the East a 

sceptre sway'd ; 
538. The first of them by Cyrus, King of Babylon was 

made; 
He who decreed that men should pray to none but 

him, and then 
Cast Daniel, who still worshipp'd God, into the 

lions' den. 
Then, awed by great Jehovah's pow'r, we see the 

monarch own 
His error, and decree that men should worship 

God alone. 



B.C. 



20 



EPITOME OF TJNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



521^0 485. 



509. 

424 to 405. 

336 to 331. 



820. 



He, uncle of great Cyrus, is in Scripture called 
tlie Mede. 

The second was Hjstaspes, made a monarch 
through his steed ; 

This was the Persian king whose pride at Mara- 
thon was tamed, 

And who in Holy Scripture is Ahasuerus* named. 

He, too, became a witness to Jehovah's wondrous 
ways; 

At Esther's prayer he spares the Jews, and wicked 
Haman slays. 

The third, Darius Nothus, is less widely known to 
fame; 

!N"iQth of the Persian kings, he after Sogdianus 
came. 

The fourth was Codomannus, who was treacher- 
ously slain, 

As, vanquished, he was flying from Arbela's fatal 
plain. 



12. THE FOUR KINGDOMS OF DANIEL. 

Daniel ii. 31. 

Eight centuries and twenty years before the Sa- 
viour's birth. 

The great Assyrian empire, first of kingdoms on 
the earth, 

Came to an end ; and with the fall of that great 
monarchy 

Sardanapalus perish'd in the flames of Mneveh. 

* Some think Xerxes, others Artaxerxes Longimanus, to 
have been the Ahasuerus of Scripture. 



B.C. 



THE FIRST FOUR THOUSAND TEAES. 



21 



2059. 
2007. 



For nearly fourteen centuries that mighty realm 

had stood, 
2234. Founded by Asshur, son of Shem, a witness of the 

flood. 
2233. ]^rimrod about the self-same time had founded 

Babylon, 
And going forth, as some suppose, the land of 

Asshur won ; 
While others think that Mneveh continued separate 
Two hundred years, when Babylon became the 

subject state : 
Ninevite JSTinus conquer' d it two thousand fifty-nine ; 
Semiramis soon after built its gardens fair and fine. 
Then for about twelve centuries, proud Nineveh 

maintains 
The mastery, and Babylon a subject state remains. 
The Median Prince Arbaces his allegiance then 

disowns, 
And Babylon and Media set up independent thrones ; 
For Mneveh's adversity was Babylon's great hour, 
And Babylon soon rivaU'd even Nineveh in power. 
But yet, though shorn of many states, Assyria had 

not ceas'd 
To rank amongst the mightiest of empires in the 

East. 
Of this, its second' monarchy, six kings the crown 

enjoy'd, 
And then this most renown'd of ancient kingdoms 

was destroy'd. 
770. The first was Pul, who Israel at Samaria assail'd ; 

But Israel's time was not yet come, and golden 
bribes prevail' d. 



820. 



B.C. 



22 



EPITOME OP UNIYBRSAL HISTORY. 



735. 
721. 

710. 



606. 



538. 



Soon they were forc'd to bow before the fierce 

Tiglatb-Pileser, 
And captive then were swept away at last by 

Shalmaneser. 
Sennacherib came next, and now 'twas Jndab's 

turn to fear ; 
But good King Hezekiab's prayer Jebovab deign' d 

to bear : 
Then Esarbaddon, tben ISTabncbodonosor succeeds ; 
Tben conies tbat migbty realm's complete destruc- 
tion by tbe Medes. 
Nineveh's fall took place six hundred years and 

six B.C., 
Mark well the year, the first of Judah's long cap- 
tivity : 
Cyaxares the Mede dealt forth the final fatal blow, 
And Babylon assisted at her rival's overthrow : 
Nebuchadnezzar lent his aid fi?om Babylon the 

Grreat, 
But Babylon in turn must fall, B.C. five thirty-eight. 
For after Evil-Merodach, Belshazzar, impious king. 
While yet the holy vessels with his heathen orgies 

ring. 
And ere the fearful writing well has faded from 

the walls, 
Conquer' d by famous Cyrus, with his ruin'd empire 
falls. 

Thus fell that mighty head of gold : 

Then rose, at God's behest, 
Tbe Medo-Persian empire old, 

The silver arms and breast. 



B.C. 



THE FIRST FOUE THOUSAND TEARS. 



23 



529. 
521. 
521. 



490. 



480. 



331. 

334. 
333. 



Cambyses after Cyrus reign' d, 

See Smerdis tlien succeed ; 
Darius next the crown obtain' d, 

And ow'd it to his steed. 

Now great Darius presses on 

Athenae to enslave : 
Miltiades at Marathon 

Rolls back the threat'ning wave. 

Proud Xerxes then attempts to seize 

Fair Hellas, but in vain ; 
At Salamis Themistocles 

Delivers Grreece again. 

Bat from the earth, God hath proclaimed, 

That silver throne must pass, 
And yield to one how fitly nam'd 

Belly and thighs of brass. 

One hundred years and forty- nine roll'd rapidly 

away, 
Between the fight of Salamis and that eventful day, 
When, in the memorable year three thirty-one B.C., 
Great Alexander worked out God's immutable 

decree ; 
Darius Codomannus from the Persian throne was 

hurl'd, 
And Greece became the mistress of the mighty 

eastern world. 
Granicus could not stop the Macedonian's bold 

career ; 
Then Issus sees him capture those to Persia's 

monarch dear : 



B.C. 



24 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



331. At length, on famed Arbela's plain, tlie giant con- 

flict ends, 
The Diledo-Persian empire to the Grecian phalanx 

bends. 
!N"ot long that Grecian empire held its sway : 
With him who founded it, it passed away. 

323. Scarcely had mighty Alexander died, 

Ere his ambitions generals divide 
The wide-spread empire into separate states ; 
And piecemeal thns the torrent it awaits 
Whose iron waves, like a resistless flood, 
Sweep o'er the world, and deluge it with blood. 
Yes, haughty Rome was now to have her day ; 
The iron legs, and feet of miry clay. 
Colossus-like, the narrow world bestride, 
And know no limit to their conqu'ring pride. 
Till, rent asunder into kingdoms ten. 
The strength of Rome is partly broken ; then 
The great and wondrous stone — hewn without 

hands, 
Destroys their power, and overspreads all lands ; 
A mightier empire far than all the rest, 
One that shall know no bounds from East to West. 
Gold, silver, brass, and iron thrones must cease ; 
This lasts for ever — 'tis the Throne of Peace. 



V 



PART THE SECOND. 



ANCIENT GEEECE. 



B.C. 



ANCIENT GEEECE. 



27 



AKOIEISTT GREECE. 



13. THE MYTHIC AGE. 

A MIST of fable and romance enslirouds 

In legendary myth, and mystery, 
Like some vast ruin, dim amongst tlie clouds. 

The early days of Grecian history. 

Japheth, perhaps, was their lapetus. 

And Noah the Deucalion of old Greece ; 

And, doubtless, real adventures gave to us 

1263. The tale of Jason and his Golden Fleece. 

Great Jove was one of Greecia's early kings. 
And Hercules a hero, whose renown 

For doing wonderful romantic things. 

In the Twelve Labours has been handed down. 

If to unravel it we will but stop, 
1493. The tale of Cadmus and his dragon's teeth. 

That wondrous seed, and yet more wondrous crop. 
Is fable, but with hidden truth beneath. 

The man who fought and conquered agauist odds, 
In this world's ignorant and early stage, 

Soon rank'd among the gods or demigods 
Sung by the wand'ring bards of such an age. 



B.C. 



28 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTOKT. 



When fable thus o'er truth a cobweb spins, 
'Tis difficult to say where truth begins ; 

The following would seem to be the chief 
And leading facts deserving of belief. 



14. STATES OF GREECE. 

Greece was divided into many states 
Whose jealousies, and rivalries, and hates, 
Join'd to their own internal feuds and broils. 
Inured the people soon to warlike toils. 
Among the states, there first and foremost come 
Athenian Attica — Art's chosen home — 
Epirus, Macedonia, Thessaly, 
The lovely isles that stud the deep blue sea, 
Peloponnesus, with its ocean belt, 
Where Spartan Lacedsemon sternly dwelt. 
With others boasting almost equal fame. 
While yet no sep'rate sovereignty they claim. 
Attica justly claims a chiefest place, 
And thus her early annals we may trace. 



15. ATHENS. 

EARLY TIMES. 

1556. Cecrops, some fifteen centuries B.C., 

First founded Athens. Some assert that he 
From Egypt came ; but whence soe'er he springs 
He founded a long line of Attic kings. 



5.C. 



1184. 
1070. 



624. 



5.640, £?.558 



594. 



ANCIENT GREECE. 



29 



560. 



About B.C. eleven eighty-four, 

A league of warlike kings from Grraecia's shore 

Besiege for ten long years the famous walls 

Of Troy, which then with Priam's kingdom falls. 

The year ten sev'nty bringing to a close 

The line of Attic kings, then next arose 

A government with Archons at its head ; 

Draco was one of these, of whom 'twas said 

His laws deserv'd to be inscrib'd in blood. 

Then foUow'd Solon, upright, wise, and good ; 

He soon repeal' d the harsh inhuman code 

Of Draco, and to him Greece truly ow'd 

1^0 little measure of that great renown 

With which her memory comes handed down. 



16. PISISTRATUS. 



When Solon late in life to Egypt went, 
Pisistratus seiz'd on the government ; 
By stratagem the highest pow'r he gain'd, 
But not long undisturb'd at Athens reign'd. 
Internal feuds and quarrels soon arose, 
Megacles and Lycurgus were his foes ; 
(Mind, not the lawgiver of Spartan fame. 
But an Athenian noble of that name) . 
Pisistratus from Athens twice expell'd. 
At length his enemies completely quell' d, 
And then reigned undisputed and supreme. 
Right well the state he govern'd, it would seem 
And whilst he play'd a high ambitious part. 
Did much for learning, poetry, and art. 



B.C. 


30 EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 




To him, indeed, is due our grateful praise, 


Fl.abt.QOl 


For having gather'd Homer's scattered lays ; 


or 850. 


Uniting, with a true poetic soul. 




The fragments into one harmonious whole. 




17. THT^ PISISTRATID^. 




And after great Pisistratus, 




His sons together reign' d ; 




Till murder'd by Harmodius 


514 


Hipparchus fell, and Hippias thus 




Sole power at Athens gain'd. 




Not long, impatient, Athens bears 




The tyrant's iron hand. 




Hippias, expell'd from Greece, repairs 




To Persia ; and with Persia dares 




Invade his fatherland. 




18. THE PERSIAN INVASIONS. 




But Greece with Sparta at the head. 




The countless foe defies ; 




Miltiades the onset led. * 


490. 


Marathon ! say how well he sped ; 




Vanquish' d, Darius flies. 



B.C. 


AlfCIENT GREECE. 31 




Ten years, and yet a miglitier mass 




Of warriors Xerxes brouglit ; 


480. 


Thermopylae ! thy narrow pass, 




Held by the brave Leonidas, 




Told him how Sparta fonght. 


480. 


But Athens bums ; well, what of this ? 




Grreece is not overcome, 




W hat tho' her famed metropolis 


480. 


In ashes lies ! soon Salamis 




Sends the pron^ Xerxes home. 




Four ninety saw the fight of Marathon ; 




Four eighty that of Salamis was won. 




Avenging Greece the flying foe pursued, 




Then in the year B.C. four sev'nty-nine 


479. 


Platsea saw the Persian host subdued ; 




Mardonius fell before that onset rude ; 




This glory, false Pausanias, was thine. 




19. PERICLES. 




Scarcely had Hellas driven from her coast, 




A second time th' invading Persian host, 




When one whom Greece might weU be proud to 




own, — 




Perhaps the greatest statesman she has known, — 




Rises to view, and every age agrees 




In honouring the name of Pericles. 



B.C. 



32 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Ten years had pass'd since fam'd Platasa's strife, 

469. When first he enter'd on his public life ; 

Well train'd in youth, endow'd with moral worth, 
With the advantage, too, of noble birth ; 
In poHtics alike and warfare skill' d, 
A prominent position soon he fiU'd, 
461 & 444. And thus when Cimon and Thucydides 
Had both been ostracis'd, then Pericles 
Rose to the highest power in the state. 
His services indeed were truly great ; 

448. The sacred war beheld him at the head 

Of proud Athense's troops — right well he sped. 

445. Euboea was regain' d by Pericles ; 

(Under him fought the poet Sophocles.) 

440. Then Samos felt his bold and conqu'ring stroke ; 

Samos, that long endur'd the Persian yoke 

479. Until Mycale's sea-fight freedom brought. 

The self-same year Platsea's fight was fought. 
And now, when he from danger and alarm 
Had sav'd his country by his warlike arm. 
He tum'd his noble mind to arts of peace. 
And Athens soon surpass'd the rest of Greece. 
Still to this day her glorious works of art. 
In ruins, tell how well he play'd his part. 
Yet in this time of peace he still foresees 
The coming storm that lurks in ev'ry breeze. 
To strengthen Athens ev'ry means he pKes, 
And gives her navy constant exercise. 
He saw full well those clouds that low'r'd afar. 
Would one day burst and deluge Greece with war. 
And so before he died it came to pass : — 
First came the pride of false Pausanias ; 



i.e. 



ANCIENT GREECE. 



33 



435. 
431. 
432. 



431. 



430. 



429. 



Corcyi^a tlieu cast off tlie liatefiil yoke 

Of Corintli, wtio from Sparta aid bespoke. 

Plataea by the Tbebans was attack' d, 

And straight her quarrel was by Athens back'd. 

Into revolt then Potidsea rush'd, 

But this revolt by Athens soon was crush'd. 

Athens was proud, and Sparta was the same ; 

Each to supremacy in Greece laid claim ; 

And thus the quarrels of the minor states 

Daily increas'd their jealousies and hates, 

Till war broke out B.C. four thirty-one. 

The race of Pericles was nearly run ; 

But two years more he liv'd. Alas ! those years 

Wrung from his manly eyes the bitter tears. 

A pestilence, unparaUel'd and dire, 

Seem'd with the foes of Athens to conspire ; 

Pericles saw his children swept away. 

Then he himself at last became its prey. 

Four twenty-nine he died, and left a name, 

On which his deadliest foe could cast no blame. 

But ere that giant conflict we record. 

Which seven and twenty years, with fire and sword 

Wasted unhappy Grreece, we must premise 

A brief account of haughty Sparta's rise. 



20. SPARTA, EARLY DATS. 



Peloponnesus truly must have been 
In the remotest times a constant scene 



B.C. 



34 



EPITOME OF "UNIVERSAL HISTOEY. 



Of warlike feuds amongst its petty kings ; 
But fable over them her mantle flings, 
And these brief outlines lend us not the space 
Their mythic legendary lore to trace. 
2089. On Sicyon's old realm we cannot dwell, 

Nor ought of Argos or Mycenae tell ; 
Enough to say, Argos at last is found 
aht. 1800. Head of the petty states spread all around ; 
1104. Till just eleven centuries B.C., 

Eighty years after Troy had ceased to be, 
When the fam'd Heraclidee, as we learn, 
Erom Doris to their ancient home return. 
This was the Dorian conquest known to fame : 
Helots and slaves the ancient race became ; 
And Sparta a supremacy then gain'd. 
Which for eight centuries she still retain'd. 
Sparta ! a name with ancient glories rife, 
Deriv'd of old from Lacedsemon's wife. 
Sparta in early times, unlike the rest 
Of Grecia's cities, no stout walls possess'd, 
Deeming her children's stalwart arms the best. 
Three centuries of little note ensued, 
Mark'd only by intestine war and feud ; 
And then Lycurgus rises to our view, 
Of noble soul, wise, learned, just, and true. 
He for his rightful king preserv'd the throne 
Which one less honest would have made his own. 
aht. 884. His laws a firm and sure foundation laid 

For Sparta's greatness. At the last he made 
The Spartans swear his statutes to maintain 
Till 'his return, — and ne'er return'd again. 



B.C. 



ANCIEKT GREECE. 



35 



743. 



723. 



21. THE MESSENIAJSr WAES. 

Next the two great Messenian wars occurr'd, 

And later on in Mstory a third ; 

Sparta could brook no greatness save her own, 

Messenia therefore must be overthrown. 

The first B.C. sev'n forty-three arose, 

And twenty years elapsed before its close. 

Aristodemus valiantly contends. 

But all in vain ; subdued, Messenia bends, 

And with Ithome's fall the first war ends. 



685. 



668. 



Then peace ensues for eight and thirty years : 
Once more her warlike crest Messenia rears ; 
And Aristomenes shines forth, by far 
The chiefest hero of this second war, 
Which lasted till B.C. six sixty-eight, 
And then Messenia, vanquish'd, met her fate. 
Ira, her famous mountain stronghold falls, 
And conquering Sparta ruthlessly enthrals 
Yast multitudes among her Helot bands, 
Whilst myriads wander into other lands. 



Two centuries pass by in bondage sore, 
464. Then the Messenians, in four sixty-four. 

Taking advantage of an earthquake dire, 
Yet once again to hberty aspire. 
Ten years of war dispel their hopeful dream ; 
Still at Ithome Sparta rules supreme ; 
Yet the Messenians partially succeed, 
At least from Spartan bondage they are freed ; 



B.C. 


86 EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 




Tliougli, driven from the conntry of their birth, 


455. 


They wander homeless exiles o'er the earth. 




Again a century rolls on, and lo ! 




Epaminondas strikes the welcome blow 




That home and fatherland once more restores, 




Brings back the exiles to their native shores, 


369. 


Making Messenia prosperous and free, 


146. 


Till in the year one forty-six B.C. 




To haughty Rome Achaia bends the knee. 




22. THE FIRST PELOPONN-ESIAN WAR. 




The first Peloponnesian war 


431. 


Four thirty- one began ; 




Eleven years of blood and tears 




Its cruel course it ran. 


430. 


To Athens from the country round 




The people fly in haste ; 




But Spartan Archidamus soon 




Lays aU the country waste. 




Next year the fearful plague breaks out 




Within the city walls ; 


429. 


It rages sore, and Pericles 




At length a victim falls. 


429. 


Plat^a next we find besieged ; 




But two whole years are pass'd 




Ere to the Spartan's close blockade 


427. 


'Tis forced to yield at last. 



B.C. 



424. 



422. 



428. 



425. 



424. 



422. 



421. 



416. 



ANCIENT GREECE. 



37 



The Spartan leader Brasidas, 

In Thessaly and Thrace, 
Gains many brilliant victories, 

For which we have not space. 
Amphipolis before him falls ; 

And when rude Cleon tries 
To wrest it from him, Brasidas 

Defeats the foe, and dies. 
While Sparta thus prevail'd on land, 

Athens by sea excell'd ; 
And Mytilene's bold revolt 

Was soon completely quell'd. 
At Pylus too, Demosthenes 

(Not he who spoke so well) 
Prevail'd, and into Cleon's hands 

Four hundred Spartans fell. 
But Oleon, who against a peace 

Had ever raised his voice, 
Falls at Amphipolis ; and now 

The friends of peace rejoice. 
Both sides, grown weary of the war, 

By Mcias are sway'd ; 
And in four twenty- one B.C. 

Through him a peace is made. 



28. THE SECOND PELOPONNESIAN WAR. 

Bemain at peace for fifty years ! 

The hope, alas ! was vain ; 
And thanks to Alcibiades, 

Five years brought war again. 



B.C. 


38 EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 




The fable of tlie wolf and lamb 




"Would fitly serve to tell 




How wolfisb Athens took ofience, 


416. 


And how weak Melos fell. 




Next, Athens both by sea and land 


415. 


Famed Syracuse assail'd ; 




She might perhaps have ruled the world 




Had this attack prevail' d ; 




But bravely Syracuse holds out, 




And each assault withstands ; 




Recall' d is Alcibiades, 




And Nicias commands. 




But Nicias, irresolute, 




Still wastes the time away ; 




Demosthenes, with succours sent, 




HI brooks the long delay. 


413. 


Then comes the onslaught terrible, 




The fearful night attack ; 




A small but brave Boeotian band 




Drives the Athenian back. 




Complete defeat by sea ensues, 




And total rout on shore ; 


d. 412. 


Demosthenes and Nicias 




Never see Athens more. 




Yet though proud Athens thus is foil'd. 




Sparta, 'twas not by thee ; 




Thou yet shalt feel that Athens holds 




The mastery at sea. 



B.C. 


ANCIENT GREECE. 39 


411 to 407. 


After this Alcibiades 
Victorious, laurels won 

At Cynossema, Cjzicus, 
Byzantium, Chalcedon. 


406. 


The Spartan and Athenian fleets 

At ArginusEe meet ; 
And Lacedeemon there sustains 

A terrible defeat. 




But the victorious admirals 

Athens condemns to die ; 
Because, forsooth, the slain, unburn 'd. 

In ocean buried lie. 


405. 


But mark war's strange vicissitudes : 

Next year Lysander won 
The fight of ^gos Potamos, 

And lo ! the war was done. 


404. 


But, first, the terrors of a siege 
Athens was doom'd to bear ; 

Alas ! no Alcibiades, 
No Pericles was there. 




Defeated Athens had to sign 
A hard and humbling peace ; 

And Sparta thus for thirty years 
Became supreme in Greece. 


415. 


Famed Syracuse became the scene 
Of war, four hundred and fifteen ; 



B.C. 


40 EPITOME OF UKrVEESAL HTSTOEY. 




But two years later, Athens foil'd 


413. 


And beaten, from the siege recoil'd. 




Four hundred years and six, B.C. 


406. 


Came Arginusse's victory. 




Then the next year Athensa's loss 


405. 


At famous ^gos Potamos. 




B.C. Four hundred years and four 


404. 


Saw Athens siu"k to rise no more. 


I. aht 450. 


24 ALCIBTADES. 




Train up a child in the way he should go, 




And he will not depart from it when he is old ; 




Weeds in the spring-time permitted to grow, 




In the autumn of life will be rampant and bold. 




The youth of Alcibiades 




Was much with vices stain'd ; 




No spotless name succeeded these, 




When manhood he attain'd. 




Brilliant, yet wanting self-control. 




Though born of noble race ; 




The lofty self-denying soul 




In him we fail to trace. 


422. 


Unceasingly when Cleon fell. 




His voice for war contends. 


416. 


Unhappy Melos ! thou canst tell 




How soon he gain'd his ends, 



B.C. 


1 

ANCIENT GREECE. 41 




Eecall'd from Syracuse to meet 




Tlie charges of his foes, 




Too soon his treason is complete ; 




To Sparta's side he goes. 




But Sparta fonnd him not more true 




Than Athens had before, 


412. 


And soon to Persia he withdrew, 




A traitor thus once more. 




Here he so artfully employs 




His skill in dark intrigue, 




That Tissaphernes he decoys 




To quit the Spartan league. 




Athens is glad to welcome back 




So powerful a son. 




Sparta soon feels his fierce attack. 


411^0 407. 


And many a fight is won. 




'Twas now that Alcibiades 




His laurels fairly earn'd ; 




But four whole years of victories 


407. 


Elaps'd ere he return' d. 




At Athens, then, with transport hail'd. 




Chief general he became ; 




But when the fleet at IS'otinm fail'd, 




On him they cast the blame. 


406. 


Forc'd into exile once again. 




Towards Persia now he flies ; 




His house is burn'd, and he is slain, 


404. 


And all unhonour'd dies. 



B.C. 



42 



EPITOME OP UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



529. 



401. 



401. 



400. 



25. THE EETREAT OF THE TEN 

THOUSAND. 

In battle with. Queen Tomyris, Cyrus the Great 

was kill'd ; 
And after him the Persian throne no other Cyrus 

fiU'd. 
Five twenty-nine B.C. beheld that mighty Cyrus 

slain — 
A century elapses ere we meet the name again ; 
And then a son of Nothus, as the younger Cyrus 

known, 
Attempts to drive his brother Artaxerxes from 

the throne. 
Aided by thirteen thousand Greeks, the crown he 

strove to gain, 
And won the day, but lost his life, upon Cunaxa's 

plain. 
Then wily Tissaph ernes, at a banquet to the Greeks, 
His malice on their general, Clearchus, basely 

wreaks. 
Who now shall save the Grecian host, encom- 

pass'd round with foes ? 
Lo ! in the trying crisis famous Xenophon arose. 
Eorth from the plains of Babylon ten thousand 

men he led : 
Across the burning plains — along the Tigris bank 

they sped— 
Over the rugged mountains, and through many a 

deep defile, 
Wending their weary way, at death and danger 

still they smile ; 



B.C. 


ANCIENT GEEECE. 43 




Over Armenia's table-land still bravely on they 




bore — 




Reaching at length Trapezus, ou the Euxine*s 




southern shore ; 


399. 


And marching to CbryRopoliSjthree ninety-nine B.C., 




Accomplish' d a retreat surpass' d by none in history. 




26. THRASiJBULUS. 


404. 


On prostrate Athens Sparta now imposed 




The Thirty Tyrants ; but their rule was brief. 




Brave Thrasybulus came to her relief, 


403. 


And soon the Thirty Tyrants' reign he closed. 




'Twas Thrasybulus, who his aid had lent 




Democracy in Athens to restore, 




W hen Athens, only eight short years before, 


411. 


Drove the Eoxir Hundred from the government. 


h. alt. 440, 


27. AGESILAUS. 


d. 360. 




404. 


Athens was humbled — Sparta was supreme ; 




Though ill she used her conquest, it would seem. 




But in the scanty interval of peace 




That now ensued, so prosperous was Greece, 




That we can only wonder and lament 




Over her centuries in warfare spent. 




But Sparta was both proud, and selfish too. 




Supreme in Greece, she only kept in view 



B.C. 



44 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



Her aggrandizement, caring not for those 
Who, not secured as friends, soon turn'd to foes. 
Yet profiting at first by peace at home, 
Agesilans, who had now become 
Her king, leads forth her armies to the plains 
396 to 394. Of Asia Minor, and in these campaigns 

Many a Persian satrapy he wastes. 
The bitter cup first Pharnabazus tastes ; 
A fresh campaign was then with skill prepared. 
And then no better Tissaphernes fared. 
But danger greater far at home impends, 

394. And Sparta for Agesilaus sends. 

Thebes, Argos, Coriath foes to Sparta rise ; 
In vain to stem the threat'ning tide she tries, 
For Conon, ever brooding o'er the loss 
Athens had met at ^gos Potamos, 
Aided by Pharnabazus, soon defeats 

394. Pisander, who his death at Cnidus meets. 

Pull soon the scale Agesilaus turns ; 
Presh laurels he at Coronea earns. 
This in three ninety-four B.C. took place ; 
And then, altho' 'tis needless here to trace 
The part which each in this great drama play'd, 

387. The treaty of Antalcidas was made. 

A little while these fierce dissensions cease, 
And Hellas has an interval of peace. 



B.C. 



ANCIENT GREECE. 



45 



28. THEBES. 



382. 



379. 



378. 



Peace ! 'twas a mockery to name tlie word, 

While Sparta had the strength to wield a sword. 

Olinthus much too powerfal is grown ; 

Well then, Olinthus must be overthrown. 

Straightway a Spartan army issues forth. 

And Phoebidas conducts it towards the north. 

It chanced that ancient Thebes lay in his way. 

And Thebes to Sparta soon became a prey. 

For Leontiades, with Sparta's aid. 

Succeeded in a plot that he had laid 

The highest office in the state to gain ; 

The Polemarch Ismenias was slain ; 

Many a Theban patriot was expell'd, 

And Sparta basely the Cadmea held. 

But there were souls in Thebes who could not 

rest. 
Whilst by a foe their country was oppress'd ; 
And these, with some who bore an exile's lot. 
At length contriv'd a deep and daring plot. 
Three seventy-nine B.C. they struck the stroke, 
ExpeU'd the Spartans, and threw off the yoke. 
This Sparta could not brook ; the prize was 

great, 
Thebes might become too powerful a state ; 
And Cleombrotus, taking the command, 
Invades Bceotia, and lays waste the land. 



B.C. 



46 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



29. LEUCTRA. 

Athens, scarce yet recover' d from the smart 
Of former wars, at first took little part 
In all these conflicts, but was now aroused, 
And thoroughly the Theban cause espoused. 

378. Sphodrias, one of Sparta's generals, 

Insulted her beneath her very walls. 
So when Agesilaus took command, 
Whilst Chabrias defeats his schemes on land. 
The fleet of Athens, under Conon's son, 
Timotheas, no small successes won. 
Now as the time rolls on, stern Sparta finds 
That Thebes has generals and lofty minds. 
Of these amongst the foremost we must class 
Epaminondas and Pelopidas, 
Whose splendid talents in that trying hour 
Hais'd Thebes from ruin to the height of pow'r ; 
For Cleombrotus, marching north again, 

371. At Leuctra is discomfited and slain. 

Three sev'nty-one B.C. Epaminondas won 

Great Leuctra' s victory, surpass'd indeed by none ; 

The first red lurid glare of Sparta's setting sun. 



30. EPAMINONDAS. 

Then follow'd peace for just a little space ; 
'Twas brought about by Jason, King of Thrace, 



B.C. ANCIENT GEEECE. 47 

Who fear'd that Thebes might thwart his schemes 
of pride, 

370. Though ere he could fulfil them, Jason died. 

But peace could not last long in Grreece. Tegea, 
With the Arcadian States and Mantinea, 
Shake Sparta off; Sparta resents the act, 
And in her turn is now by Thebes attack'd. 
A mighty Theban army issues forth ; 

369. Down sweeps Epaminondas from the north. 

Laying the intermediate country waste ; 
'Tis Sparta's turn war's fearful woes to taste. 
Still, still Epaminondas presses on, 
If Sparta fall, his task indeed is done. 
Sparta itself at last the foe has reach'd, 
And Sparta has no ramparts to be breach' d. 
See ! in her hippodrome the Theban stands. 
And IN'eptune's sacred fane is in his hands. 
But who shall beard the lion in his den ? 
The very name of Sparta sav'd her then. 
Not daring to attack, the Thebans pause, 
Epaminondas soon his force withdraws ; 
Sparta is sav'd from her impending fate, 
But all around is spoil' d and desolate. 
Messenia too, which so much blood had cost, 
Is liberated and by Sparta lost. 
Then Athens all her ancient hate forgot, 
And with her former foe cast in her lot, 
Though all in vain Iphicrates would stay 
The now returning Thebans on their way. 
And thus Epaminondas, having eam'd 
For Thebes the chiefest rank in Greece, re- 
turn'd. 



B.C. 



48 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



Arcadia next again asserts her rights, 
But Archidamus, sent against her, fights 

367. That tearless battle, where, historians tell, 

Not one of all his Spartan warriors fell. 
But soon the very friends of Thebes became 
More and more jealous of her rising fame ; 
And when fresh troubles in Tegea rose, 
Thebes, interfering, met with nought but foes. 
Arcadia, Athens, and Achaia too. 
Their swords against her in the balance threw. 
But while Epaminondas is alive. 
The Theban cause, in spite of all, must thrive. 
Consummate skill his movements all display. 
Finding AgesHaus sent away, 
Once more he threatens Sparta, though in vain ; 
Agesilaus hastens back again. 
Sparfca once more is rescued from the foe, 
Though soon to meet a last disastrous blow. 

362. And lo ! at Mantinea's fatal fray, 

Epaminondas, as he pass'd away, 
Wrested from Sparta's brow the laurel crown, 
Through centuries of valour handed down. 



I. 382. 
d. 336. 



31. PHILIP OF MACEDOlSr. 

Not long was Thebes to be the chief 
Among the states of Greece ; 

Her proud supremacy was brief. 
And destin'd soon to cease. 



B.C. 



ANCIENT GREECE. 



49 



359. 



358. 



Pelopidas to Thebes had brought 

A hostage young in years ; 
And well in war and wisdom tauarht, 

A hero soon appears. 

Philip the Grreat of Macedon 

Never sustain'd defeat ; 
And Grreece, before his course was run, 

Confess'd his sway complete. 

Perdiccas, Philip's brother, died, 

Amyntas was his son ; 
But Philip set the youth aside, 

Thus was his reign begun. 

At first not unopposed he reign'd : — 
Argaeus claim'd the throne ; 

Philip Edessa's vict'ry gain'd. 
And made it all his own. 

Unlike most conquerors of old. 
He show'd himself humane ; 

No captives he to bondage sold 
But set them free asrain. 

A peace with Athens now he tries, 

And gives her, as her due, 
Amphipolis, his conquer'd prize. 

And Potidasa too. 

And now his great ambitious views 

Need not a false pretext ; 
The fierce Peeonians he subdues, 

And the lUyrians next. 



B.C. 



50 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



356. 



354. 



355. 



But Athens holds his friendship light, 

Her memory is short : 
She seizes Pydna, — his by right, — 

Indeed, his only port. 

Incensed, and jnstly too, by this, 
With Athens soon he breaks ; 

And Pydna, and Amphipolis, 
And Potidsea takes. 

l!Tow come the glorious war in Thrace 

And marvellous successes : 
He wins the fight, — his horse the race ; 

And he a son caresses. 

Then, greater than a victory, — 
Perhaps his greatest feat, — 

Whilst liberating Thessaly, 
His masterly retreat. 

A second sacred war meantime 
Most of the States engaged ; 

This war on Phocis for the crime 
Of sacrilege was waged. 

But Philomelus valiantly 
The Phocian cause defends. 

On his death, aid to Thessaly 
Brave Onomarchus lends. 



353. 



But Onomarchus being slain 
And Lycophron o'erthrown. 

Their freedom the Thessalians gain 
Through Philip's aid alone. 



B.C. 



A:N^CIENT GREECE. 



51 



346. 



339. 



338. 



After ten long and weary years, 

This sacred war lie closed ; 
And just and generous appears 

In all that lie proposed. 

The famed Amphictyons among 

ISTow Philip takes his seat, 
Who, arbiters of right and wrong, 

In solemn council meet. 

In Greece so prominent a star 
Athens but ill could brook ; 

And more or less, in every war 
A part against him took. 

At sea her honour to uphold 

Chares completely fails, 
Whilst Philip with Crenidee's gold, 

Past multiplies his sails. 

Often, indeed, Demosthenes 

Sought Athens to alarm ; 
Till his Philippics by degrees 

Prevail'd on her to arm. 

Amphissa's sacrilege fall fast 

A sacred war brought on. 
Amphissa fell, and then at last, 

Jealous of Macedon, 

Athens and Thebes their strength unite, 
Great Philip's course to stay ; 

But Chaeronea's famous fight 
O'erthrows them in a day. 



B.C. 



52 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY, 



336. 



Thus at bis feet had Philip laid 
Most of the Grecian states, 

And now proud Persia to invade 
Boldly he contemplates. 

'Twas not to be. — Pausanias 
Cut short the monarch's life. 

The deed, some thought, Olympias 
Connived at though his wife. 

E-arely indeed those ages knew 
One quite unstain'd with crimes. 

Philip had faults, but they were few, 
And common to the times. 

And though his vast ambition must 

Be ever deem'd a stain, 
Philip was generous and just, 

Sagacious and humane. 



32. ALEXANDEia THE GREAT.— GREECE. 

Well may it need a muse of nobler pow'rs 
To tell of famous Alexander's might; 

But yet that task shall not in vain be ours, 
If we portray his character aright. 

Great ! yes, if greatness truly can consist 
With such fierce impulses of good and ill ; 

Magnanimous when none his sword resist, 

Savage to those who thwart his sov'reign will. 



B.C. 



ANCIENT GREECE. 



356. 



338, 
336. 



335. 



But let US first tlie wond'rous tale relate, 

How lialf the world he conquered — how he fell : 

And whether he deserv'd the name of " Great," 
The story of his actions best will tell. 

Born in three fifty-six, his early years 

Gave promise of a great ambitious mind — 

His father's victories he hails with tears. 

Lest he himself no field of fame should find. 

Bucephalus, that most renown'd of steeds, 
Whilst yet a stripling fearlessly he tames ; 

Then, at eighteen, war's fierce assault he leads, 
And Chseronea's chiefest glory claims. 

Three thirty-six beheld him on the throne, 
At twenty years a chief Amphictyon : 

The States of Greece now hasten to disown 
The sov'reign sway of haughty Macedon. 

They little know with whom they have to deal ; 

Full well he proves himself brave Philip's son ; 
And Thebes, and Athens, and the rest soon feel 

That he will never lose what Philip won. 

To quell the rude barbarians in the north, 

Full soon the Danube's mighty stream is cross'd ; 

The moment seems propitious, Thebes stands forth 
Once more in bold revolt ; 'tis to her cost. 

She bitterly repents of having brav'd 

The wrath which yet she might have turn'd 
away — 
Thousands are slain, and one sole fabric sav'd 

Tells how completely Thebes in ruin lay. 



B.C. 



334. 



54 



EPITOME OE UNIVERSAL HISTOET. 



Chosen at Corinth, to command the force 
Destin'd to conquer many an eastern host, 

With scarcely forty thousand foot and horse, 
Three thirty-four the Hellespont he cross'd. 



333. 



333. 



33. ALEXAl^-DER.— THE MARCH TO EGYPT. 

331. Soon at Granicns, in the foremost rank. 
He plunges in ; and, giving loose the reins 

To brave Bucephalus, he mounts the bank, 
Slays Mithridates, and the battle gains. 

He visits Troy, and, passing round the coast, 
Arrives next year at Gordium, the spot 

Where for the struggle he collects his host. 
And with his falchion cuts the famous knot. 

A conqueror on Issus' plain he stands ; 

From that wild rout Darius flies for hfe. 
Leaving in no ungen'rous captor's hands 

All that he loves — his children, mother, wife. 

And southward now his conquering footsteps bend j 
Alas for Tyre, she dares but shut a gate. 

332. Sev'n months elapse — the siege attains an end, 
No words can paint the city's cruel fate. 

Jerusalem submits, and she is spar'd. 

Behold proud Alexander bowing low 
Before her high priest. What if she had dar'd 

To thwart him, would he then have spar'd her 
so ? 



B.C. 


ANCIENT GEEECE. 55 




Answer it, Gaza ! Thou didst but refuse 

To yield to one whom none had yet withstood ; 

Ten thousand, sold as slaves, their freedom lose, 
And Betis bathes his chariot wheels in blood. 


331. 


Egypt submits, and so no blood is spilt. 

Jupiter Ammon finds he has a son ; 
And famous Alexandria is built. 

Of twenty, caU'd the same, this was but one. 




1 
34 ALEXAN'DER.— PERSIA AND THE EAST. 


331. 


The Persian monarch's fate is now at hand ; 

Arbela witnesses the fatal blow. 
That brazen phalanx nothing can withstand ; 

Three thirty-one sees Persia's overthrow. 




The traitor Bessus treacherously slays 
His King, as from that fatal field he flies ; 

But Alexander in the end repays 

The traitor's deed, and Bessus tortured dies. 


331. 


ISTow, mighty Babylon and Susa yield ; 

Yet not unsullied is the glory earned — 
The flaming torch his wanton courtiers wield. 

And recklessly Persepolis is burn'd. 


329. 


But worlds, unconquer'd yet, lie further on : 
His martial soul pants for new battle fields. 

Eastward he marches, provinces are won. 
And Sogdianus to his prowess yields. 



B.C. 


56 EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTOEY. 




Alas ! the noble features of his mind 

Were now debased and spoil'd by his success. 

Clitus^ the friend who saved his life, we find 
Slain by the monarch in his drunkenness. 


328. 


Roxana was a Bactrian princess, 

W ho, taken captive in a mountain strife, 

Forced by her charms the victor to confess 
Himself subdued, and she became his wife. 


327. 


Onward he goes ; the Indus now is pass'd ; 

Soon Porus meets this king of conquerors ; 
Nobly he fights, but is subdued at last, 

And Alexander all his realm restores. 


327—326. 


Men cannot stop his path, but nature may. 

At last, full near the Ganges' sacred tide, 
The rains of India check his onward way. 

And murmurings are heard on every side. 


325. 


And Alexander no more glory earns — 
His great career of victory is done ; 

Three twenty-five to Susa he returns. 
And thence, last scene of aU, to Babylon. 




35. ALEXANDER.— THE LAST YEARS. 




Marvellous were the efi'orts which he made 
In organizing his vast mighty realm; 
Ably the politician's part he play'd, 
And guided well and skilfully the helm. 



B.C. 



ANCIENT GREECE. 



57 



324. 



323. 



A second wife, Statira, now lie weds, 
The daughter of Darius, once his foe. 
Alas ! the path that now the monarch treads 
Is one that lays both mind and body low. 

Intemperance is seldom found alone ; 
From that foul source too many vices flow ; 
A hero ne'er in battle overthrown 
Ignobly yields to passions base and low. 

Thus perish' d, at the age of thirty- two, 
B.C. three twenty -three, at Babylon, 
One whose ambitious pride no limit knew — 
The greatest conqueror the world has known. 

An instrument in God's Almighty hand, 
To change the fate of nations was his lot ; 
Few, few, perhaps, could such a trial stand. 
And pass through such a life without a blot. 

Matchless in valour — oft in victory 
Magnanimous — and generous of mind ; 
Unselfish — with a soul for poetry — 
SkiU'd in the art of governing mankind ; 

Yain of a fabled birth ; and oftentimes. 
When thwarted, fiercely savage in his hate ; 
Led by base passions into many crimes : — 
Judge if he truly eam'd the name of " Great. 



B.C. 



58 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



36. THE FATE OF GREECE. 

Alas for Greece ! lier glory was obscur'd, 

Not heigliten'd, by this Empire of the East ; 
Which only for the monarch's life endnr'd, 
301. Then, parcell'd out in fragments, wholly ceas'd. 

Selencus seiz'd on Syria rich and fair ; 
Ptolemy Lagus fertile Egypt gains ; 
Antipater of Greece obtains a share ; 
d. 301. Antigonus awhile in Asia reigns. 

Lysimachus takes Thrace, and Eamenes 
Possesses Cappadocia as his own ; 

Thus, at his death, his proud lieutenants seize 
The mighty realms that Alexander won. 

One last bright flash the world may yet behold, 
Ere humbled Greece becomes a Roman State, 
280. When Pyrrhus leads his Grecian warriors bold, 

Victorious nearly to Rome's very gate. 

But soon the States of Greece, each in its turn. 
Enfeebled and degenerate must bend, 

And haughty Rome's supremacy must learn ; 
The history of Greece was at an end. 



37. EARTHLY LIGHT. 

Greece, mighty Greece, had fall'n to rise no more ; 
But still to live for ages yet to come : 
Aye, till the world itself shall pass away. 
Fresh in the memories of wond'ring men, 



B.C. 



fi. 531 1. 468. 
6. 429, b. 384, 

d. 212. 

alt. 884, I 
aJz^ 594. I 



/. 907 07- 850. 

/. 427. 

I. 525, 5. 495, 
6. 480. 

h. 484, 5. 471. 
h. abt. 444. 



/. 611,/. 531 

h. 518. 

5. aSi^. 490. 

fi. 364. 



/. 424 to 400. 
.^. 332 ^0 300. 
fi. 336 ^0 323. 



ANCIENT GREECE. 



59 



The type of all that men tliink beautiful 
And great, in learning, poetry, and art. 
Her very name straight conjures up to view 
The shadows of her great and glorious sons, 
Rising colossal through the mist of time. 
Grand as the monuments that still remain 
Where once her poets sang, and heroes fought. 
What is there in which Greece did not excel ? 
Whilst other lands may boast of one or two 
Philosophers, she, with a host besides, 
Had her Pythagoras and Socrates, 
Plato and Aristotle — famous names — 
With Archimedes. In the field of Law, 
ISToble Lycurgus and wise Solon, too, 
Stand forth pre-eminent. In Poetry 
Of every kind, the Grecian claims a rank 
Second to none — from Homer's epic grand 
To Aristophanes of comic vein, 
^schylus, Sophocles, Euripides, 
In tragedy ; — In History, we find 
Herodotus, Thucydides, and then 
The warrior and historian Xenophon. 
In Lyric Poetry pre-eminent, 
Sappho, Anacreon, and Pindar sang. 
In Sculpture, Phidias, as yet unmatch'd, 
Praxiteles, and many more she boasts. 
Whose names are -lost, altho' their works remain 
To stamp her excellence. The painter's work 
Was all too perishable : envious Time 
Has left us nothing ; yet we cannot doubt 
S That Zeuxis and Protogenes surpass'd 
All but Apelles, chiefest of them all. 



B.C. 



60 



EPITOME OP UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



Where shall we find the Statesmen that excelled 
d. 527 d. 429. Pisistratns and famous Pericles, 

d 336. Or Philip, skill'd alike in peace and war ? 

Then as for heroes, we may count the stars 
As easily as those who died for Greece. 
480. Thermopylee, in savage grandeur clad, 

So sternly great in sure self-sacrifice 
And utter hopelessness of victory. 
And Marathon whose fame shall never die. 
Stand forth like constellations ; noble stars 
Of greatest magnitude, Leonidas 
And brave Miltiades, attract the eye ; 
But was there not a nebula in each 
Of countless minor glories, all unnamed ? 



And then we pause. Is it not passing strange 

That such a nation should have lived and died 

And never known, in all its great career. 

The God, who yet as surely from his throne 

Beheld their every act, and knew each thought 

As though they had been martyrs for his word ? 

Light without God ! Yes, truly, but the light 

Of intellect alone. And intellect, 

Although it shines so nobly forth in man. 

The reflex of the wisdom throned on high ; 

Although with virtue link'd and probity, 

It raises man above the common herd ; 

And joined to perfect love and perfect faith, 

Raises his soul to all that he can hope 

To be on earth ; yet, by itself alone. 

Is but a worthless, vain, and useless thing 

To save the soul. This light, indeed, was theirs 



B.C. 



ANCIENT GREECE. 



61 



What was its use to them ? ay, ev'n to those 

In whom it shone ; and doubtless they were few — 

Too few compared with myriads around 

In darkness plunged. Let Paul of Tarsus tell 

What Rome and Corinth, with their earthly light 

(Excell'd perhaps by none) became at last ! 

Thou to whom God has now reveal'd himself. 

Thou hast a purer light ; be warn'd by them : 

Let not the cultivation of thy mind 

Be all thy care, or ev'n thy chiefest care. 

Remember that the issues both of life 

And death are from the heart and not the mind. 

God gives to thee his pure and holy word : 

If thou wouldst understand his wondrous ways, 

From Scripture only may those ways be learned. 

What says the Scripture ? "In my Father's house 

Are many mansions." We are also told 

That Gentile nations who have not the law. 

Yet do by nature what the law commands, 

Are to themselves a law. A thousand years 

With God are only as a single day ; 

And, if we but reflect, a multitude 

That seems to our weak finite minds so great, 

May be as nothing in comparison 

With all the vast innumerable hosts 

Of creatures, or of this or other worlds, 

Whom, if we be God's children, we may meet 

One day, adoring round th' eternal throne. 

But let us well beware, nor waste away 

The little time we yet may call our own 

In useless speculations. Let us learn 

From Ancient Greece this lesson : Intellect, 



B.C. 



62 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Courage, and skill in art, may all consist 
With ignorance of God. In thankfulness 
Let ns right humbly bend our hearts to love 
The merciful Creator who has giv'n 
To lis a brighter light — a promise sure. 
Such as they never had of old — that those 
Who love and honour Him, and do His will, 
Shall, for the sake of One who died for all, 
Hereafter dwell with Him, and taste of joys 
Imperishable, and surpassing far 
All that our finite minds can comprehend. 



PABT THE THIRD. 



ANCIENT ROME. 



B.C. 



aht. 1187. 
1184. 



d, 884. 



ANCIENT EOME. 



65 



ANCIEN'T ROME. 



38. JEl^EAS. 



About twelve hundred years B.C., wHle Jephthah 

rashly vowed, 
The walls of Troy before the banded Grecian 

monarchs bowed : 
Great Agamemnon, keen Ulysses, JSTestor, wise 

and old, 
Wrong'd Menelans, Ajax loud, Achilles brave and 

bold :— 
j^neas fled the city with a small but chosen band, 
Anchises on his back, he led Ascanius by the hand, 
But lost his wife Creusa 'mid the slaughter and 

the flame. 
And, tempest-toss'd, the sea he cross'd, and thus 

to Latium came. 
But did he visit Carthage, — did he see Queen 

Dido there ? 
Ko, for he lived three hundred years before that 

lady fair : 
Queen Dido's aunt was Ahab's queen, the wicked 

Jezebel, 
Bat Judges still rul'd Israel in the days when 

Ilium fell. 

F 



B.C. 



66 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



Latinus welcom'd well his guest, escap'd from 

storm and slaughter, 
And gave to him in marriage soon Lavinia fair, 

his daughter, 
^neas brought a son with him, Ascanius, born at 

Troy; 
His Latin wife, Lavinia, bore him soon another boy ; 
This son, ^nea,s Silvius, all the Latian realm 

retains ; 
Ascanius Alba Longa founds, and separately reigns. 



39. ROMULUS AND REMUS. 

Four hundred years roll on, and then King Kumitor 

we find 
Dethron'd by fierce Amulius, tho' his brother ; yes, 

but mind, 
IN'umitor had a daughter, Rhea Sylvia, who had 

twins, 
N"amed Romulus and Remus, — mighty Rome with 

them begins. 
Amulius fear'd to let them live, and hence the 

cruel doom ; 
" The infants to the Tiber, and the mother to the 

tomb :" 
But Faustulus, the shepherd, to the infants' rescue 

came ; 
Laurentia Lupa suckled them, no she-wolf but in 

name. 
The boys grew up to man's estate, and rustic 

quarrels bring 



B.C. 


ANCIENT EOME. 67 




Tiiem face to face witli JSTumitor, — again they make 




him king ; 




They slay the fierce Amnlins who had robb'dthem 




of their home, 


753. 


And then, seven fifty -three B.C., they fonnd that 




famous Rome. 




Alas ! the work begins in blood, and with the 




crime of Cain, 




For Eemas is by Romulus, his own twin brother, 




slain. 




40. KINGS OF ROME. 




On seven hills the city stood, 




Close by the Tiber's yellow flood ; 




And seven kings in order came, 




First founders of its fature fame. 




"Kings rul'd in Rome from seven fifty- three. 




Till Tarquin's fall, five hundred nine B.C. 


753, 714, 


Romulus first, and Numa second. 


671 


Tullus Hostilius third is reckon'd. 


640. 


The fourth is Ancus Martins grim. 


616. 


Tarquinius Priscus follows hiln. ; 


577. 


Sixthly, Servius Tullius reigns, 




The seventh and last alone remains ; 


534. 


Tarquinius, cail'd Superbus, brings 




Soon to a close the list of kings. 



B.C. 



68 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



Romulus builds, and witli a wall surrounds 
The city, and the Boman senate founds ; 
Forms the Patrician and Plebeian classes, 
With patrons, and dependent client masses ; 
The city into parishes divides. 
And boldly gives his people Sabine brides ;» 
Becomes a tyrant towards the close of life. 
And dies at last by the assassin's knife. 



750. 
716. 



667. 



N"uma Pompilius gives the Roman nation 
A quiet reign of peace and legislation. 

TuUus the wars of Romulus renews. 

And many a neighb'ring nation he subdues ; 

The warlike Sabine first before him quails, 

Then Yeii and Fidense he assails ; 

See ! young Horatius flies across the plain, 

N'o coward's flight ; look, now he turns again ; 

His scatter'd foes with ease are overcome, 

And Alba Longa bows to conqu'ring Rome. 

The next reign, that of Ancus Martins, shows 
Many successes over Latin foes. 

The sons of Ancus, when their father died. 
Were by Tarquinius Prisons set aside. 
This monarch's reign was mark'd by great success 
In jvar, and in the works of peace no less ; 
Rome's mighty sewers to this day proclaim 
The noble things this Tarquin did for fame. 

But of the kings of Rome, as all attest, 
Grreat Servius Tullius was by far the best : 



B.C. 



ANCIENT EOME. 



69 



509. 



He lighten'd taxes, — eas'd the people's loads, 
Constructed many public works and roads ; 
And though, he was himself a king, he still 
Curtail' d the sov'reign's power of doing ill. 
Wisely and well he govern'd, but at length, 
Hurl'd from the throne by haughty Tarquin's 

strength, 
His mangled body in the public street. 
Proud TuUia spurns beneath her horses' feet. 

By violence proud Tarquin gains the throne, 
His tyranny soon makes his country groan ; 
His nephew Sextus, too, by his misdeeds. 
Adds fuel to the flame, — Lucretia bleeds, — 
And Rome arous'd to vengeance by that stroke. 
Expels the Tar quins, and shakes off the yoke. 

And while the warlike sons of ancient Rome 

Were thus developing those mighty powers, 

That afterwards subdued the whole known world, 

The chosen race of Grod had ceased to be 

An independent nation of the earth. 

The favoured people, who had onoe obeyed 

N'o less a monarch than the Lord of Hosts, 

Had cast Him off; and now they found themselves 

In turn cast off by Him; their earthly kings 

Availing nought to save them from their foes. 

The reign of Romulus had not yet closed, 

When haughty Shalmaneser swept away 

The house of Israel : — Prisons still was kino". 

When Judah's sore captivity began. 

Unsearchable, indeed, are all His ways. 



B.C. 



^0 



EPITOME OP UNIVERSAL HISTOKT. 



The chosen race is smitten to the dust, 
Others, that know not God, are destined soon 
To rule the world. Tet though they knew Him 

not, 
Think ye the Great Creator of them all 
Ruled less supreme at Athens, or at Rome, 
Than in Jerusalem ? Be well assured 
That, tho' our hearts be ignorant of God, — 
Whether from want of light or wilfully, — 
He still is ever near, about our path. 
About our bed, and seeth all our ways. 
The hunted bird on Afric's burning plains 
May hide its head, and think itself unseen, 
It does but hasten its impending fate : 
Destruction follows, with unerring step. 
On wilful blindness. God hath giv'n to thee 
The light, and hath reveal'd to thee his will. 
Cast off the darkness that enshrouds thy heart ; 
Look up to Him in answ'ring love and faith ; 
Praying for strength to keep thyself unstain'd 
By those dark passions that deface and blot 
Too many a page of this world's history ; 
For strength to keep within that narrow path 
That leads to certain and eternal bliss, 
Through One in his good pleasure not reveal'd 
To Ancient Greece and Rome, but in his love 
Reveal'd to thee — thine only way to heav'n, 
And the ensample for thy life on earth. 



B.C. 



AI^CIENT ROME. 



71 



509 or 508. 



508. 
507. 



499. 



498. 



41. CONSULS. 
N'o more by hauglity monarclis vex'd, 
The Romans choose two Consuls next ; 
Lictors before them fasces bear, 
And they can only rule one year. 
See CoUatinus first in turn, 
With Lucius Junius Brutus stern ; 
Sfcern, but so just that, with unfalt'ring breath, 
His sons rebelling he condemns to death. 



42. THE WAES OF THE TAEQUmS. 

IS'ow many a neighb'ring state with Tarquin sides. 

The Yolsci first Publicola defeats ; 
Lars Porsena to Rome triumphant rides, 

But at the bridge Horatius Codes meets. 
Who to beleaguer' d Rome shall succour lend ? 

See Mutius, with his right hand in the flame. 
Turning Lars Porsena from foe to friend, 

And earning for himself a deathless name. 

ISText come the Latins to proud Tarquin's aid. 

And Titus Lartius is dictator made. 

A truce ensues, but scarce a twelvemonth later, 

The Romans choose Posthumus as dictator. 

For Tarquin' s cause again the Latins aid. 

And Rome with forty thousand men invade. 

But Lake Regillus sees its silver flood, 

Dy'd crimson with the vanquish'd Latins' blood ; 

And Rome for ages to her children boasts. 

Castor and Pollux fought among her hosts. 



B.C. 


72 EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 




43. CORIOLANUS. 




Yet scarcely is the outward foe repuls'd, 




When Rome is by domestic feuds convuls'd ; 


493. 


And Tribunes now the populace elect, 




Their rights from the Patricians to protect. 




Lo ! now to arms the warlike Yolsces fly, 


493. 


But Caius Marcius takes Corioli, 




And by his valour wins undying fame, 


491. 


Yet, banish'd by the populace, — oh, shame ! 




He joins the Yolsces, and thus lifts his hand 


. 


To wage fierce war against his fatherland. 




Ruin soon threatens Rome ; but Caius hears 


489. 


His wife's entreaties — sees his mother's tears. 




Alas ! he proves a traitor once again, 




Draws ofl" the Yolsces, and by them is slain. 


488. 


'Twas in the year B.C. four eighty-eight 




Unhappy Caius Marcius met his fate. 




Twenty eventfal years had passed away. 




Since last a king in Rome had held his sway. 




44. CmCINNATUS. 




The next great man who ruled Rome's destiny 




Was Cincinnatus, who in years gone by 




Had filled the highest offices of State ; 




Then, with a modesty most truly great. 




Retir'd again to till his humble farm ; 




But, in the day of danger and alarm, 



B.C. 



AlfClENT ROME. 



73 



458. 



454 



CJiosen dictator, from the plough he goes, 
And saves Minutius hemm'd around by foes. 
In fourteen days he gains the laurel crown, 
And the dictatorship again lays down. 
Rewards and offices ahke he spurns, 
And to his humble farm again returns. 



45. THE LAWS OF THE TWELVE TABLES. 

Rome for a little while is now at peace, 
And so she sends ambassadors to Grreece 
For lessons in the art of legislation. 
Lycurgus and wise Solon of that nation, 
Had by their wisdom and their codes of laws. 
Most worthily deserv'd the world's applause ; 
'Twas thus, B.C. four fifty-four, were fram'd 
The laws of the Twelve Tables justly fam'd. 



451. 



46. VIRGINIIJS. 

About this time much discontent arose 

Against the Consuls ; so the Romans chose 

Decemvirs ten to govern in their stead, 

But none the better for the change they sped. 

For though it was appointed these should reign 

Only one year, the caution was in vain ; 

Since, when the year was out, the ten refus'd 

To render up the office they abus'd. 

One of them, Appius Claudius was his name, 

A shamefal notoriety may claim ; 



B.C. 


74 EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 




Dentatus would have clieck'd him, but in vain, 




He caused "him to be treacherously slain. 




At length when he the shameful sentence gave, 




Awarding fair Virginia as a slave, 


449. 


Yirginius in her bosom plunged the knife, 




And bought Rome's freedom with his daughter's 




life. 




For not in vain did that poor maiden bleed, 




Rome was arous'd to vengeance by the deed ; 


449. 


And in the year four forty-nine o'erthrew 




The hateful reign of Appius and his crew. 




47. NEW FORMS OF GOVERNMENT. 




The Consulate was next restored, and then 




The form of government was changed again, 


445. 


Six Military Tribunes were elected ; 




But this, too, fail'd, and they were soon rejected. 




Rome then return' d to Consuls, as of old, 




But by two Censors these were soon controU'd. 


443. 


This office first four forty-three appears. 




And those elected held the post five years. 




48. CAMILLUS. 




Amongst the noblest names that gild the page 




Of Roman history in any age, 




That of Camillus is most justly fam'd. 


403. 


Forty years after Censors first were nam'd, 



B.C. 



ANCIENT EOME. 



75 



He held that dignity ; five times lie fill'd 

The proud dictatorship ; in warfare skill' d 

Beat Fidenates, and Falisci too, 
396. And Yeii in three ninety-six o'erthrew. 

Yet this great Roman into banishment 
391. By his nngrateM countrymen was sent, 

Because he strove the influence to restrain 

Which the Plebeians ever sought to gain. 

But hark ! fierce Brennus, with his warlike Gauls, 
390. Has reached triumphantly Rome's very walls. 

The town is sack'd, the senators are slain, 

The Capitol's proud walls alone remain ; 

A six months' siege they sturdily withstand. 

Soon they had fall'n, but rescue was at hand ; 

Just as unhappy Rome seem'd all subdued, 

Nobly forgetting her ingratitude 

The brave Camillus on the scene appears ; 

The city of her enemies he clears, 

Destroys the Gauls, or drives them vanquished 
home; 

Banish'd Camillus saves ungrateful Rome. 

The city then he soon rebuilds, and thus 

Earns well the name of " Second Romulus." 
390. 'Twas in three ninety that Camillus sav'd 

Old Rome from being by the Gauls enslav'd ; 

He liv'd to eighty two, but ere he died 

Again in battle humbled Gallia's pride ; 

At eighty years of age he triumphed o'er 

The Gauls (three sixty-seven B.C.) once more; 

Then two years after this, Rome's annals tell, 

A victim to the pestilence he fell. 



B.C. 



1Q 



EPITOME OP TJNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



49. MARCUS CUHTIUS. 

361. About this time the Forum, with a spasm, 

Bursts open, and displays a yawning chasm. 
The Augurs say the fearful gulf shall last 
Till into it Rome's choicest things be cast. 
Curtius declaring Rome's far richest prize 
In stern self-sacrificing valour lies, 
Mounted and armed leaps down amid the gloom 
Lo, the abyss has closed — the warrior's tomb. 



342. 



282. 

280. 
280. 



50. PTRRHUS. 

The hardy Samnites next invok'd 

The crimson God of war ; 
'Twas sixty years ere they were yok'd 

To Rome's triumphal car. 

Yet one thing is beyond a doubt, 
The Romans lov'd not peace ; 

This the Tarentines soon found out, 
And call'd for aid from Grreece. 

King Pyrrhus, answ'ring to the call, 

Forth from Bpirus goes ; 
Before him Rome's proud eagles fall, 

Lsevinus he o'erthrows. 



275. 



Too dear the victory has cost, 
Pyrrhus ne'er reaches Rome ; 

And Beneventum's battle lost 
Sends him defeated home. 



B.C. 



ANCIENT EOME. 



77 



272. 



270. 



Two eighty brave Lsevinus lost 

Fain'd Heraclea's fight ; 
Pyrrlms two sev'nty-five recross'd 

To Greece in sorry plight. 

In vain to conquer mighty Rome he tried, 
And by a woman's hand at Argos died. 
The Samnites and Tarentines soon in turn, 
The prowess of the conqn'ring Romans learn. 
Two sev'nty years B.C. thus found the whole 
Of Italy beneath proud Rome's control. 



51. THE FIRST PimiC WAR. 

Now those three famous Punic wars arise, 
Which ruled the destinies of all the world ; 

Carthage the growing pow'r of Rome defies, 
And Carthage to the dust at last is hurl'd. 

264. The first began B.C. two sixty-four, 

And lasted three and twenty years or more. 

Hiero, King of Sicily, had made 

War upon Mamertina ; to its aid 

Rome sent her legions. In an evil hour, 

Carthage, now jealous of Rome's growing power, 

Espous'd the cause of Hiero, and so 

Made Rome at once implacably her foe. 

In Sicily and Corsica at first 

Por nine long years war slak'd its cruel thirst, 

256. And then at length on Africa it burst. 



B.C. 



78 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



Begulus was the liero of this war ; 

Great victories lie gains when first he lands ; 
But, in the end, Xanf ippus dims his star ; 

He falls into the Carthaginian's hands. 



255. 



250. 



241. 



Five weary years a captive he remains, 

And then the Carthaginians send him home, 

Pledg'd to return, and reassnme his chains. 
Unless he can extort a peace from Rome. 

Sternly npon the Senate he prevails 

The peace thns sought by Carthage to deny ; 

Contented then for Africa he sails, 

Though sure a cruel ling'ring death to die. 

War is renew' d, but Carthage, to her cost. 
Exhausted finds she must at last give way ; 

Sicilian towns and Corsica are lost, 
And tribute to her rival she must pay. 



52. THE SECOND PUNIC WAR. 

But Carthage is not dead, she does but sleep, 
And Rome's first triumph is to be but brief ; 
Eor Carthage has been rearing up a chief 

Whose sword shall soon make Rome's proud 
matrons weep. 

Hannibal, from his infancy brought up, 
By stern Hamilcar in his Punic home. 
To hate the very name of conqu'ring Rome, 

Has sworn from boyhood to avenge the cup 



B.C. 



218. 



ANCIENT EOME. 



79 



218. 
218. 
217. 
216. 



207. 



203. 



That Rome had made unhappy Carthage drain ; 
And cause of quarrel soon is found in Spain. 

Saguntum, one of haughty Rome's allies, 

Before the Carthaginian hero falls ; 

In vain on Rome for help Saguntum calls, 
But not in vain to Rome for vengeance cries. 
See ! Hannibal the Pyrenees, the Rhone, 

The Alps, has cross'd, tho' with diminish'd 
ranks. 

And Rome's proud legions on Ticinus' banks, 
And on the Trebia next, are overthrown. 
Lake Thrasymenus fresh disaster brings. 
And Cann^'s plain is strewn with knightly rings. 

Cannae, the Romans' most disastrous field. 

Had well nigh brought the conflict to an end ; 
But mighty Rome is still too proud to bend ; 

She cannot be destroyed, she will not yield. 

-^milius and Marcellus may be slain. 
But Fabius lives, to conquer by delay, 
Nero, to stop all succours on the way, 

Scipio, to close the war on Zama's plain. 

Eleven years of war ! yet Rome survives ; 

Her fate is seal'd if Asdrubal arrives. 

But Asdrubal, with succours from afar, 

At the Metaurus Consul Nero meets ; 

Nero the Carthaginian force defeats. 
And changes thus the fortunes of the war. 
Scipio, victorious in Spain, has cross'd 

To Africa, and lays the country waste ; 

And Hannibal quits Italy in haste. 
Lest Carthage, and with Carthage all be lost. 



B.C. 


80 EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 


202. 


Then a great victory, at Zama won, 




Sees Carthage humbled, Hannibal undone. 




Carthage may still exist, but in that hour 




Her ships and colonies are swept away ; 




And tribute she again is forc'd to pay. 




And never more regains her former power : 




Hannibal later from his country flies, 


alt. 183. 


And still pursued by Rome, self-poison'd dies. 


216. 


B.C. two hundred and sixteen 




Saw Cannas's fatal day ; 




Mne years of war then intervene 


207. 


Ere the Metaurus' fray. 




Two hundred and two years B.C. 




Beheld the work complete, 


202. 


When Rome, by Zama's victory, 




Laid Carthage at her feet. 




53. SYRACUSE AJS^D SYRIA 




'Tis marvellous how Rome, whilst thus engag'd 




With Hannibal in this fierce struggle, wag'd 




Another war of no small magnitude. 




And famous Syracuse at length subdued. 




W hilst Hannibal lays waste the Latian fields, 


212. 


This ancient city to Marcellus yields ; 




E'en Archimedes tried his skill in vain, 




And Svracuse ne'er rose to pow'r again. 




Freed from her Punic rival for a time 




Rome pants for conquest in some other clime ; 



B.C. 



192. 
188. 



leg.aU.U^ 



ANCIENT ROME. 



81 



Syria, whose king Antioclins had giv'n 
A home to Hannibal from Carthage driv'n, 
Was next attack'd ; need we the issue name ? 
Syria a province of proud Rome became. 



54. THE THIKD PUOTO WAR. 

Fifty-six years at length had reach' d a close 
Since Rome and Carthage outwardly were foes, 
Fifty-six years of insult and of wrong 
Had Carthage her existence dragg'd along. 
At last when Masinissa, once her friend, 
But now proud Rome's ally, attempts to rend 
Away from her a province near his own. 
Thus aggrandizing his !N"umidian throne, 
Carthage at first complains and then resents j 
Rome finds a cause of war in these events. 
She long had meant her foe should be destroy'd. 
And on the task her utmost strength employ'd ; 
First Carthage must her small demands concede ; 
But these to greater and still greater lead. 
Then, when unarm' d and weaponless she stands, 
^milianus issues his commands — 
That, in subjection to imperious Rome, 
The people shall forsake their Punic home. 

Then, to resist despairingly they dare, 

They turn to make one fierce and desp'rate stand, 

In vain rude hasty weapons they prepare. 

In vain the maidens give their raven hair 

For bowstrings ; 'tis too late, the end's at hand. 



B.C. 



146. 



82 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



Resisting to the last, proud Carthage falls, 

Who once had rivall'd even Rome in fame ; 

And not one stone of those once mighty walls, 

Those glorious palaces and stately halls, 

Is left upon another, to proclaim 

Where Carthage once had stood ; her day is past. 

And Rome has swept her from the earth at last. 



55. THE GRACCHI. 



133. 



132. 



But whilst thus waging war abroad, old Rome 
Was sowing seeds of discontent at home. 
Carthage had been destroyed but thirteen years, 
When lo ! her gory head sedition rears. 
The Gracchi, taking up the people's cause. 
Sought to revive those old Agrarian laws 
Enacted in Rome's rude unpolish'd state 
To curb the wealth and influence of the great, 
Ry which five hundred acres, at the most, 
Was all of which one single man might boast. 
The nobles felt their pow'r would be no more 
If once the Gracchi could those laws restore ; 
To crush them they exert their utmost strength ; 
And when Tiberius Gracchus seeks at length 
The Tribunate unduly to retain. 
They cause him in a tumult to be slain. 
His death one thirty-two B.C. took place, 
But Rome had yet another of his race ; 



B.C. 



121. 



alt. 133. 



146. 



113. 



106. 



102, 101, 



ANCIENT ROME. 



S3 



Eleven years after this attempt, his brother, 
Whose name was Caius Gracchus, made another ; 
Again Patrician influence proved too great, 
And Caius Grracchus met the self-same fate. 



56. SPAES" AND GREECE. 

Scarcely was Carthage levell'd with the dust, 
When Eome, as though afraid her sword might rust, 
Sends forth her eagles and subdues all Spain ; 
Then turning eastward from the west again. 
Proud conqu'ring Macedonia she enthrals ; 
And then all Greece beneath her sceptre falls. 
But hark ! a storm is gath'ring in the l!^orth ; 
Soon from their German fastnesses burst forth 
The Cimbri and Teutones. Who shall stay 
The sweeping torrent of their onward way ? 
Fear not ! Rome never in her hour of need 
Wanted brave sons her conqu'ring bands to lead. 
See ! Caius Marius rises on the scene ; 
Conqueror of Jugurtha he had been, 
And then from Africa return'd to Rome, 
And led th^ party of the Plebs at home. 
Two victories, in two successive years. 
He gains ; in each a nation disappears. 
Thus in one century and one B.C. 
From these fierce hordes he sets his country free. 



B.C. 



84 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 



88. 



88 to 84. 



83. 



79 (fZ. 78). 



67. MARIUS AND SYLLA. 

Free ! yes, alas ! the way was clear 

For civil war and strife ; 
Soon every Koman liv'd in fear 

Of the assassin's knife. 

For Marius and Sylla now 

Are rivals in the State ; 
And scarcely blood enough can flow 

To satisfy their hate. 

First Cains, like a tiger raging, 
Spread terror wide and far ; 

Sylla was then in Pontus waging 
The Mithridatic war. 

Woe, woe to him, whom on his way 

Marins greeteth not ; 
The victim, be he who he may, 

Is bntcher'd on the spot. 

And after Marins was dead, 

Sylla returned once more ; 
Then blood, alas ! in Rome was shed 

More fiercely than before. 

Sylla at last his pow'r resign'd 

In sev'nty-nine B.C., 
And Rome for some few years we find 

From blood and slauo:hter free. 



B.C. 



ANCIENT EOME. 



71. 



71. 

73 to 71. 

67. 

66. 

63. 
63. 

62. 
62. 



58. POMPEY AIS-D CRASSUS. 

CrassTis and Cneius Pompey (called tlie Great) 
Next shar'd the highest offices of State ; 
Both military reputations gain ; 
Pompey subdnes a grave revolt in Spain, 
Whilst wealthy Crassns, left to rule at Eome, 
And carry on the government at home, 
Quells a revolt that fiU'd all Rome with dread, 
By Spartacus the gladiator led. 
In sixty-seven B.C. Pompey, with ease, 
Swept all the pirates from the Grecian seas. 
Then, as Rome's general, to Asia sent, 
Some years in great successful wars he spent ; 
Ph-st Mithridates, then Tigranes falls, 
]^or aught avail Jerusalem's proud walls. 
The title of " The Great" thus justly earned, 
Pompey in sixty-two to Rome return'd. 
Vile Catiline that same year sixty-two 
Rome's profligates around his standard drew. 
Cicero's wise precautions sav'd the Sfcate, 
And Catiline soon met his well-earn' d fate. 



S-100,^.44. 59. JULIUS C^SAR. 

And now in Rome arose a mighty name, 
The greatest of her sons ; one who may claim 
Upon the highest pinnacle of Fame, 
The loftiest, noblest place. 



B.C. 



86 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



60. 



53. 



59 to 50. 



49. 



In Cains Julius Caesar's master mind 
With the consummate general we find 
Orator, Author, Statesman — all combined ; 
The greatest of his race. 

Sylla had spared his life, but had foretold 
That that unyielding spirit, calm and bold. 
One da J full many a Marius would unfold ; 
Eome had not long to wait. 

Pompey and Crassus had become sworn foes, 
Ctesar as yet unable to oppose. 
First reconcil'd, thenjoin'd them; thus arose 
The first Triumvirate. 

ISTow it was Pompey's turn to rule at home ; 
Crassus in Asia wields the sword of Rome, 
But by the flying Parthians overcome. 
He meets a dreadful fate. 

Soon Caesar's wars the master mind reveal ; 
Gauls, Britons, and the neighb'ring nations feel 
Nine years the edge of his all-conqu'ring steel. 
And tremble at his name. 

Twice had his valiant legions cross 'd the Rhine 
In those nine years, when, B.C. forty-nine, 
Caesar was sternly order'd to resign 

The sword that won his fame. 

For, by his brilliant victories appall' d, 
The senate fear'd lest Rome might be enthrall'd ; 
At Pompey's bidding Caesar they recall'd ; 
But Pompey's day was past. 



E.G. 



ANCIENT EOME. 



87 



49. 



48. 



48. 



44. 



Caesar Ms army undisbanded keeps, 
Down from the N'orth on Italy he sweeps, 
And see ! as in the Rubicon he leaps — 
Exclaims, " The die is cast !" 

Pompey for safety to Dyrrachium hies. 
And for a time successfully defies 
Csesar's attacks — then into Greece he flies ; 
Rome he will see no more. 

The rival armies at Pharsalia meet ; 
Pompey sustains a terrible defeat, 
And forc'd from Greece to Egypt to retreat, 
Is stabb'd upon the shore. 

Thus perish'd Pompey, B.C. forty-eight ; 
Csesar pursues him, but arrives too late. 
And Cleopatra's syren arts await 

One they can not enthral. 

Caesar return' d to Rome ; and soon 'twas thought 
To gain the kingly dignity he sought ; 
A deeply-laid conspiracy soon wrought 
The mighty Csesar's fall. 

Cassius, some thirty more, and Brutus too, 
Csesar's own friend, their daggers on him drew, 
And basely in the capitol th^y slew 
A chief surpass'd by none. 

Thus murder' d fell, in B.C. forty-four, 
He who victoriously Rome's standard bore 
From Britain's cliffs to Egypt's sandy shore, 
Rome's greatest, mightiest son. 



B.C. 


88 EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 




60. THE SECOND TRIUMYIRATE. 




Kot unaveng'd great Caesar falls ; 

Sounding war's dire alarms, 
Antony, Caesar's nephew, calls 
His partisans to arms. 




Octavianus, thongli lie fights 

First on the other side, 
Yet soon with Antony nnites, 

And they their power divide 


43. 


With Lepidus, whom now they chose 

Their colleague in the State ; 
And thus in forty-three arose 
A new Triumvirate. 


43. 


Each of the three his enemies 

Slaughters with vengeful hate ; 
Thus Cicero a victim dies, 

And hundreds meet their fate. 


42. 


Brutus and Cassius sought in vain 
In Greece to hold their ground ; 
And on Philippi's fatal plain. 

Defeat and death they found. 


41. 


Antony next, on Asia's fields. 

Treads the great road to fame ; 
To Cleopatra's charms he yields, 
And tarnishes his name. 



B.C. 


AXCTENT EOME. 89 




Forgetting what to Rome lie owes, 




Unbounded pow'r lie claims ; 




Once more Octavius overtlirows 




His great ambitions aims. 


31. 


Actinm, in B.C. tbirty-one, 




Seqs the decisive fray ; 




Mark Antony bis race has run, 




Octavius gains tbe day : 




See ! Cleopatra's galley flies, 




Witb glittering sails nnfurl'd ; 


30. 


Self-slain, liice Antony, she dies ; 




And, master of tbe world, — 




Octavius, tbougb be never wore 




Tbe crown and robes of State, 




Becomes first Roman emperor. 


named in 27. 


Augustus, wise and great. 


A.D. 


61. DECLINE AND FALL. 




Tbe reign of Christian Constantine, 


306. 


A.D. three hundred and six began. 


409 & 410. 


The Goths, a.d. four hundred and nine. 




Witb Alaric Rome overran, 


452. 


And desolation next ensued. 




From Attila, tbe warlike Hun ; 




By Genseric's fierce Yandals rude, 


455, 


Four fifty-five 'twas overrun. 



A.D. 



90 



EPITOME OF "UNIVERSAL HISTOEY. 



Angustulus, son of Orestes, bore 

The name of emperor, but was clepos'd 

Bj Odoacer, and for evermore 

The list of Roman emperors was clos'd. 

Orestes was, in fact, the last to reign 
Over the Empire of the West ; and he 
476. B.C. four hundred seventy-six was slain, 

And then that mighty empire ceas'd to be. 

But still the eastern empire held its ground, 
1453. And still in fourteen fifty-three was found 

And then that eastern empire had to bend 
The knee to Mahomet, and saw an end. 



62. THE ROMAIC EMPERORS. 

A Roman emperor ! The very name 

In the stern page of history comes down, 

Sullied by every deed of blood and shame. 
That can disgrace the proud, imperial crown. 

By such a race of emperors oppress'd, 

Unhappy Rome, for near five hundred years 

Known as the famous Empire of the West, 
Had little rest from reigns of blood and tears. 

Yet in that catalogue so foul, so black, 

Some brighter names appear from time to time, 

Who did not follow in the beaten track 
Of murder, sensuality, and crime. 



A.D. 



ace. 96, 79, 70 
, ace. 138. 
ace. 98, 211. 



aec: 161. 
ace. 364. 



AXCIEKT KOME. 



91 



Thus JSTerva, Titus, and Vespasian too, 

And Antoninus Pius, merit well, 
With Trajan, Geta, and, perhaps, some few 

AVhose reigns in rather later times befel, 

K'ot to be class'd among those men of blood ; 

Some few had faults comparatively slight ; 
Marcus Aurelius may be counted good. 

And Yalentinian's name is clear and brio-ht 

o 

But God's avenging hand full oft appears 
Even on earth in punishing our sins, 

Whether a royal crown the sinner wears, 
Or by his toil a daily pittance wins. 

How few of those who Rome's proud purple wore. 
Peacefully in their beds departed hence ; 

Some fifty — and amongst them twenty-four 
All in succession — died by violence. 

Those proud Prsetorian Guards, just as they chose, 
Set up at will an emp'ror of their own ; 

And then, when some new favourite arose. 

Slew the last wretch they plac'd upon the throne. 

Oh, who would pass this little life, 

That fleeteth in an hour, 
In those dread scenes of blood and strife, 

That mark the road to pow'r ! 

Happy are they who keep in view 

Those words in mercy sent ; 
If ye have food and raiment too. 

Be ye therewith content. 



A.D. 



92 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTOET. 



Wliat if thou be of lowlj birth, 

He maketh thee His care, 
Who sweeps a nation from the earth, 

And hears an orphan's pray'r. 

Where now are those great emperors ? 

What helps them their renown ? 
They pass'd away like meteors. 

Thou yet mayst wear a crown, 

Not like to theirs destructible, 

And lasting but a day, — 
Eternal, incorruptible, 

That fadeth not away. 



PART THE FOURTH. 



TSE FIFTH TEOUSAND YEAES. 



A.D. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



95 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND YEARS. 



63. THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 

The glorious snnliglit from above 

Had burst upon mankind ; 
And beams of Christian truth, and love 

Soon spread abroad we find. 

Man's finite mind but dimly now 
Grod's hidden ways may read ; 

Yet all, — though we perceive not how,— 
To some wise purpose lead. 

Nations their sep'rate paths may tread, 

Yet all one day shall meet 
In joyful hope, or hopeless dread, 

Before one judgment seat. 

An empire's ruin, and the joys 
That fill a poor man's heart, 

God's providence alike employs, — 
Alike they play their part. 

Salvation's great and glorious scheme,— 

Mankind from Adam's fall 
In love and mercy to redeem, — ■ 

Faith can discern in all. 



A.D. 


96 EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 




If Rome a distant province seize, 




It happens not in vain ; 




JSTor yet in vain, great victories 




May Alexander gain. 




Unconsciously the path is made 




O'er which, in after times, 




The Gospel's light shall be convey'd 




To those remoter climes. 


63. 


If Paul to Rome a pris'ner sails. 




Christ's banner is unfurl'd 




Amongst a race whose tongue prevails 




Throughout the whole known world. 


34. 


One Ethiopian on his way 




Baptiz'd by Philip stands ; 




And bears the Gospel's cheering ray 


, 


To distant heathen lands. 




Barbarous heathen nations, far and near, 




Swept by the tide of conquest to and fro, 




The "Word of Life are destin'd thus to hear. 




And in their turn the precious seed to sow. 




Rome is supreme, and now the mighty stone. 




Hewn without hands, and soon a kingdom vast. 




Chiefest of all arises, and alone 




Imperishable, shall for ever last. 




And Rome must fall ; yet not like Ancient Greece, 


• 


Suddenly from her proudest, loftiest height ; 




Her pow'r must wane, and wither, and decrease. 




Beneath soft luxury's destroying blight. 



A.D. 



from 4 B.C. to 
33 A.D. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



97 



A rapid growth is quickest to decay ; 

The stately oak that slowly reach'd its prime, 
While flow'rets sprang and wither'd in a day, 

Seems almost to defy the hand of time. 

The great Creator's wisdom, and his care, 
And love for man, shine equally in both ; 

Yet 'tis his will and pleasure to prepare 

Strength and endurance by a slower growth. 

But let us scan each century, and see 

What are its prominent events, and trace 

Their bearing on the world's great history, 
And mark the rise of each prevailing race. 



64. THE FIRST CENTURY. 

The Lord of hfe, the very Son of God, 

Incarnate, wrought redemption's wondrous plan. 

For seven and thirty years the earth He trod. 
From sin to rescue fall'n and sinful man. 

I pause in silent awe ! and will not tread 

On ground so hallow'd. In God's holy Book, 

For Jesus born, and suffering, and dead. 
And ris'n agam from death, I bid thee look. 

God's gracious promise was fulfill'd ; the seed 
Promised to Adam and to Abram too 

Was visiting the earth, fiiU soon to bleed 

Even for those who ne'er that promise knew. 

H 



A.D. 



98 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HTSTOET. 



64 & 



70. 



70. 
61. 



The work was all achiev'd. But let us trace 
How man receiv'd the blessing God had sent. 

Rome in the world then held the chiefest place, 
On Rome our eyes must first be chiefly bent. 

Eierce persecutions vainly would destroy 
The purer faith, aye, in the very bud ; 

God even persecutions can employ 

In his designs, and ev'n a mart^/r's blood. 

The furnace does but purify the gold, 

And not destroy it. Persecution's sword 

Reaches not all who stay ; some, not so bold, 
Flee forth, and bear abroad the cherish'd Word. 

The great pre-eminence that Rome enjoy'd 
Was shaken first by rude barbarian swords, 

When the proud hosts of Varus were destroy'd 
By Hermann, and his brave Cheruscan hordes. 

Yet Rome awhile her conquests may extend, 
The Briton and the Parthian yet must yield ; 

Pull many a European tribe must bend, 
'Not may Zenobia fam'd Palmyra shield. 

The days are come, the prophecies fulfiU'd, 
And Judah falls beneath the fearful blow ; 

The arm of Titus lays, so God hath will'd, 
Jerusalem in blood and ashes low. 

Old things are passing, and give way to new ; 

Jerusalem's proud temple is no more. 
Nine years before, Suetonius overthrew 

The Druid altars upon Mona's shore. 



A.D. 



61. 

78 to 85. 



101. 

136. 

114 & 162. 



193. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEARS. 



99 



That self-same year Boadicea fell, 

And Rome became in England all supreme. 

Then came Agricola, who rul'd so well, 
Shedding upon the land a brighter beam. 

And, whether Paul these islands ever reach'd, 
Or Roman soldier, or some trader brought 

The Word of Life, that 'twas in England preach' d 
Soon after this, by many has been thought. 

And lo ! before the century had clos'd 

The written Word of Grod was all complete ; 

And the belov'd disciple, John, repos'd 

Where he no persecution more should meet. 



65. THE SECOND CENTURY. 

Fewer events of great importance mark 
The progress of the second century ; 

But light, where all before was drear and dark, 
Shining abroad from east to west, we see. 

Rome's history was that of all mankind. 

At Trajan's feet the Dacian conquer' d lies ; 
The Jews revolt, slaughter alone they find ; 

And deadly persecutions still arise. 

Imperial Rome's decline is drawing nigh, 
For luxury and vice at Rome prevail : 

And Didius Julianus now may buy 

The Purple, shamefully set up for sale. 



A.D. 


100 EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 




m. THE THIRD CENTUEY. 




Anotlier century, the third, 




Beholds the rise of many sects ; 




And each, on Grod's pure simple Word, 




Some strange new theory erects : 




Forgetting Him who can alone 




For man's delinquency atone, 




Some think that God can be content 




With self-inflicted punishment. 


202, 237, 250, 


^ Arid now five cruel persecutions more 

^ Harass the Christian church and vex it sore. 


257, 272. 




I^Tow Rome attains her loftiest height. 




No more her pow'r shall be increas'd ; 


209. 


Yet with the Scots her legions fight, 


280. 


And with the Persians in the east. 




Amid a host of odious names. 


h. 205, d. 235. 


The good Severus justly claims 




As high a rank as any one 




On whom the Grospel never shone. 


273. 


Aurelian's triumph o'er Palmyra gain'd. 




Is by the death of great Longinus stain' d. 




But now the Groths and Pranks arise, 


260, 271. 


And make fierce inroads upon Rome ; 




At first she one and aU defies, 




But nearer and still nearer home 




She sees the threat'ning foes, whose hate 




Serves but to rouse and stimulate 



A.D. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



101 



269, 273. 



b. 272, d. 337. 
324. 



The spirit of those former tinies, 
When Rome was not yet steep'd in crimes. 
'Tis vain. The race of Pagan Rome is run, 
As night recedes before the rising sun. 



67. THE FOURTH CENTURY. 

The worldly and perverted mind of man 

Sees nought but sorrow and calamity 

In all that robs him of a present joy. 

It loves prosperity, as though the aim 

And only end of life were ease on earth ; 

Forgetting that the riches of this world, 

With heav'nly treasure incompatible, 

Stifle and clog the efforts of the soul 

To rise, once more, the image of its Grod. 

But suffering and tribulation sore 

Are heav'nly messengers from Grod to man, 

Though clad in woful garb, in mercy sent ; 

And they beset the narrow path, to cleanse 

And purify the soul from worldliness. 

Envy not those who now (mark well the words) , 

Because they have no changes, fear not Grod. 

Was it a blessing to the Christian church 
That Constantine, the Roman emperor. 
Became a Christian ? let us rather say 
(For hardly he deserv'd that holy name) 
Became the patron of the Christian world. 
Decking its rising fanes with gold and gems. 
And casting down the temples of the gods ? 



A.D. 



102 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



Alas ! that holy fire, that shone so bright 
Amid the gloom of prisons and of caves, 
And cast a halo round each martyr's crown, 
Must needs be quench'd by popularity, 
And perish in the sunshine of the world. 
Whole nations might adopt the name of Christ 
Under a Christian emperor of Rome ; 
But they had their reward at once on earth, 
And wide, not narrow, was the path they trod. 



A ray of mercy gleams in all ; the tenth 
heg. 303. Great persecution thus became the last. 
But we perhaps may rather look upon 
The worldly triumph of the outward Church, 
Illot as a blessing sent by heav'nly love. 
But a malignant thrust from Satan's hand, 
Permitted, and still overrul'd for good. 
And made the means of spreading through the world 
The faith it was intended to subvert. 
Mark what ensued ; relics and bones of saints 
Are venerated and ador'd ; then came 
The practice of seclusion from a world 
Too plainly all at enmity with God ; 
As though the faithful soldier of the Cross 
Fought best by flying from his enemy. 
The Roman bishops — now that Rome protects 
The Christians — claim the Headship of the Church, 
And lay the first foundations of that power 
That held the world for centuries in thrall. 
And Arius now puts forth his heresy, 
296, d. 373. Oppos'd by Athanasius ; then at Nice 

325. The first great Council held, maintains the truth. 



A.D. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAJ^D TEARS. 



lO'J 



Great crimes disgraced tlie life of Constantine ; 
And thougli the spreading of the Christian Church 
Is coupled with his name, 'tis doubted much 
How far our gratitude is due to one 
Who acted probably for selfish ends. 
Hated at Rome, he to Byzantium thence 
Remov'd the seat of- government, and died, 
Little regretted, in three thirty-seven. 



328. 
337. 



361. 
363. 

364. 



379. 



395 



Lo ! Julian the Apostate vainly tries 
At Rome the Pagan worship to restore. 
He fails, and fighting with the Persians, dies. 
And then, as time roll'd on, this mighty realm 
Was rent in twain, and in three sixty-four 
The sep'rate Empires of the East and West 
At length arose. Good Yalentinian first 
E/ul'd in the West, and Valens in the East. 
Once more they were united for a time 
By Theodosius, called the Great ; and then 
Arcadius and Honorius, in their turn. 
Severed them, never to be join'd again. 



358. 

379. 395. 

379. 

364 



Meanwhile the G-othic and the German tribes, 

And rude Sarmatse, gave the sword of Rome 

But little rest ; and other races too, 

The Alemanni, and Sicambri fierce, 

Like Hydra's heads, rose up on ev'ry side, 

Still, still to be by Julian overthrown, 

By Theodosius, or by Stilicho, 

Though Yalens fail'd, and met a dreadfal fate. 

Britain, invaded by the Picts and Scots, 

Is yet reconquer' d for a little while. 



A.D. 



104 



.EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



409. 446. 455, 



409 and 410. 
410. 

ah. 446 to 452, 



451. 



IS'ow from the distant East another race, 

The savage Huns, impell'd by that desire 

To wander forth and conquer on the way, 

That sways the Central Asiatic tribes, 

Were sweeping eastward. Soon the swelling tide 

Of nations, rolling tow'rds unhappy Rome, 

And scarcely now repress'd, shall overflow, 

And Goths, and Huns, and Yandals, in their turn, 

See at their feet the mistress of the world. 



68. THE FIFTH CENTURY. 

Behold at last the time had come : 

The Goths, led on by Alaric, came first. 

To slake in blood their hot and vengeful thirst, 

Sacking and burning mighty Rome. 

Scarcely had thirty summers pass'd 
When warlike Huns, with Attila their king. 
Founding a claim upon Honoria's ring. 
Came sweeping like a with'ring blast. 

Their cruel work was done ; again 

Sweeping from Rome across the Alps, they find 

The Romans and the Visigoths combin'd 

To stay their course on Chalons' plain. 

And this was Rome's last victory. 
Perhaps, indeed, her most important one — 
Since, from the thraldom of the savage Hun, 
The Christian world was thus set free. 



A.D. 


THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEAES. 105 




The famous Merovic, they say, 

The founder of the Meroyingian line, 

Came with his valiant Franks across the E/hine, 

And fought against the Huns that day. 


ace. 481c?. 511. 


Clovis, four ninety-three, erects 
The monarchy of France, call'd from the Franks ; 
And Paris, on the Seine's now famous banks, 
As her metropolis selects. 


455. 


IS'ine years elapse, and Yandal hordes, 
Fresh from their victories in Africa, 
Led on by Grenseric, make Rome their prey, 
Dyeing in Roman blood their swords. 


476. 


Twenty-one years, and one who bore 
A deadlier sword than even Grenseric' s, 
Great Odoacer, in four sev'nty-six, 
O'erthrows proud Rome to rise no more. 


409. 


In Britain, Yortigern, meanwhile, 
(The Romans having left it) vainly fights 
Against the Picts ; and Hengist he invites 
To help him to regain the Isle. 


449. 


And Hengist came right willingly — 
Out of the land full soon the foe was swept ; 
But England for themselves the Saxons kept, 
And thus arose the Heptarchy. 


ah. 410. 


Meanwhile the Church was sorely tried 
By errors, and by heresies within ; 
And man's original and inborn sin 
Now by Pelagius was denied. 





A.D. 



106 



EPITOME OP UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



Yet many a saintly genius bright^ — 
Augustine, Vigilantius, Chrysostora — 
Adorn'd tlie Churcli, and gilded Christendom 
With radiant beams of holy light. 

The Church, four thirty-one, expell'd 
With all his followers, Nestorius : 
431. This third great Council sat at Ephesus : 

451. The fourth was at Chalcedon held. 



Thus the ISTestorian Christians rose, 
Unshackled by the heresies of Rome : 
Secluded in the East, they found a home, 
And there their little lamp still glows. 

Thus many a distant branch, we mark, 
A purer, holier, lasting light possess'd; 
Whilst the great churches of the East and West 
Began to wander in the dark : 

Of East and West, for deadly schism 
On things important to our one great hope. 
Sprang up between the Patriarch and the Pope, 
Between Greek Church and Romanism. 

'Twas now the Popes became so nam'd ; 
And (now that miracles by relics wrought, 
And image-worship into vogue were brought,) 
Infallibility they claim' d. 

But who had stemmed that mighty Hunnish tide, 
Which, bursting from its Asiatic home, 
Deluged and ravaged Europe far and wide. 
And even humbled proud Imperial Rome ? 



A.D. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEAKS. 



107 



451. 'Twas ^tius, in the year four fifty-one, 
Who fonght that fearful fight on Chalons' plain, 
And stay'd the onward progress of the Hun ; 
For though both armies on the field remain, 

The mighty avalanche was turn' d aside ; 
Relentless Attila had had his day, 

452. And when, two short years afterwards, he died, 
His Empire, like a meteor, pass'd away. 



ab. 516 to 544, 
or earlier. 



597. 



69. THE SIXTH CENTURY. 

All England now is master'd by the warlike Saxon 

race, 
And soon their Pagan idols Christianity displace ; 
But still the sturdy Britons, after Yortigern was 

dead. 
Fought bravely to the last, by many a gallant 

chieftain led. 
'Twas now that brave Prince Arthur fought, and 

round his famous table 
Sat with his knights, those heroes bold, of wild 

romantic fable. 
Bravely they fought, retreating into Cornwall, till 

their foes 
Crush' d them at length, and then the Saxon Hep- 
tarchy arose. 
The century had nearly clos'd, when Ethelbert 

embrac'd 
The Christian faith, which never had completely 

been efiaced; 



A.D. 



108 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



For lioly men and true there were, who kept God's 
holy word, 

And still had pray'd and worshipp'd, spite of per- 
secution's sword. 

But surely now these faithful ones come forward, 
and rejoice 

To see the Church thus rescu'd by the monk 
Augustine's voice. 

Alas, more deadly now to them was persecution's 
sword 

Than when the Saxon conqueror his Pagan gods 
restor'd. 

And all who will not bow to Eome, but venture 
to deny 

What E/ome commands them to believe, at once 
are doom'd to die. 

This was Augustine's work ; and let it never be 
belie v'd 

That England first from him the light of Gospel 
truth receiv'd ; 

A pure and Apostolic church our native land could 
claim 

Some centuries before the Romish monk Augus- 
tine came. 



5. 483,0-00. 527. 
d. 565. 



Meanwhile the Eastern Empire was attaining to 

a height, 
Rivalling even ancient Rome in council and in 

fight. 
Society no little debt of gratitude has ow'd, 
Even in modern times to great Justinian and his 

Code: 



A.D. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



109 



d. 565. 

527—534. 

539—541. 

554. 



In tHs, and in his other famous works, may yet 

be trac'd 
The laws on whi oil fall many a European code is bas'd. 
And now too, Belisarius, in conquering career, 
Subdu'd the mightiest nations in succession, far 

and near. 
The Persian first, and then the warhke Vandal 

he defeats ; 
In Sicily and Italy the Hke success he meets. 
And ere his marvellous career of victory was run. 
His valour sav'd Byzantium from the bold ad- 
vancing Hun. 
And famous Belisarius comes nobly handed down, 
As one of those who wisely have refus'd a profier'd 

crown. 
The sixth and seventh centuries beheld the Popes 

assert 
Their temporal supremacy, to help them to subvert 
AU monarchs who may dare to disobey what they 

dictate. 
And thus secure their spiritual rule in ev'ry State. 



493. 



554. 



The kingdom which the Ostrogoths in Italy had 

gain'd, 
On Odoacer's death, they but for sixty years re- 

tain'd. 
Totila, in five fifty-four was overcome and slain 
By Narses, and that kingdom fell, never to rise 

again. 
Italy, when this Ostrogoth supremacy had ceas'd. 
Was ruled awhile by Narses for the Emp'ror of 

the East ; 



A.D. 


110 EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTOET. 


568. 


But little time elapsed before the Exarcli was re- 




call'd, 


d. 564. 


And Alboin, the Lombard, King of Italy install'd. 




Thus it befel that Lombard rule in Italy arose ; 




Two centuries had nearly pass'd before it saw a 




close : 




Two centliries that weU sufficed foundation firm to 




lay 




For that more modern Italy which we behold to-day. 




70. THE SEVENTH CENTURY. 




The seventh century 




Saw the false faith of Islam rise ; 




Deadliest of the enemies 




Of Christianity. 




But ere we here record 




The Moslem conquests, we may glance 




At Chosroes, and his advance 




With Persia's conqu'ring sword. 


616. 


Jerusalem is won ; 




Egypt succumbs, and Syria falls, 




And to Byzantium's very waUs 




He leads his warriors on. 




Whilst, like a mighty tide, 




The fierce Avars come sweeping down. 


, 


And deadly foes beset the town 


626. 


Closely on ev'ry side. 



A.D. 


THE FIFTH THOUSAND YEAES. 


Ill 


622. 


Heraclius at length, 
Leaving Ms own war-wasted land 
Uncared for, witli a chosen band 

In Persia shows his strength. 




627. 


Thus home at last he drew 
The Persian ; then, at Nineveh, 
Chosroes, by one victory, 

He utterly o'erthrew. 




5.570,(^.632. 


But Mahomet was now 
Founding the faith, beneath whose sway 
Throughout the East, e'en to this day, 

So many nations bow. 




610. 


The year six hundred ten. 
Beheld at last the Koran fram'd ; 
And Mahomet himself proclaim' d 

Grod's prophet among men. 

And not alone a creed. 
Set up by Mahomet we see : 
To found his earthly monarchy 

Unnumbered thousands bleed. 

The page of hist'ry shows 
No realm of such extent and might, 
That ever to so vast a height 
• So suddenly arose. 

Ere Mahomet was dead. 
That false religion, far and wide. 
In aU its mighty conqu'ring pride, 

Through many lands had spread. 





A.D. 


112 EPITOME OP UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 




First Caliph of the East, 


632. 


Abubeker came next ; then came 


ae. 634,(^.643. 


Omar, who Islam's pow'r and fame 




So mightily increas'd. 




In fifty years at most. 




Syria, Persia, Egypt fall. 




"With Palestine, beneath its thrall, 




And all the Libyan coast. 




A prey to Moslem spears 


638. 


Zion became ; and so remain' d, 


1099. 


Until by Godfrey's sword regain'd, 




After four hundred years. 




It is not ours to know. 




Why Grod has suffered Islam's creed 




To check the growth the Gospel seed 




Had then begun to show. 




Perhaps, because more bright, 




Before His chosen converts' eyes. 




The purer faith would one day rise, 




By missionary light. 




Than if the Word of Life 




In peace the world had overspread, 




All unoppos'd, all free from dread, 




And this world's cruel strife. 




But while at God's behest, 




Success the Moslem standard crown'd, 




The Gospel too was gaining ground, 




Throughout the favour'd West. 



A.B. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND YEARS. 



118 



Brave, lioly men there were, 
Who, Kke the good Colninba, went 
From land to land, in mercy sent, 

Heaven's pathway to prepare. 

In many lands they preach' d : 
Casting abroad the precious leaven, 
That fits repentant sonls for heaven. 

By one Atonement reach' d. 



71. THE EIGHTH CEISTTURY. 

Another century, the eighth, beholds 
A mighty conflict. On the famoas plain 

732. Of Tours, the great decisive fight was fought, 

In which proud Islam and the Christian faith 
Contended for the Empire of the West. 
The tribes that dwelt on Afric's northern coast, 
Chafing beneath Byzantium's heavy yoke, 
In evil hour invoke the Saracen, — 
Full soon the coast from Egypt to the Straits 
Succumbs to Moslem rule. — Anon, a feud 
Amongst the Visigoths, the lords of Spain, 
(Discord at home is ever fruitful source 
Of ruin from abroad) prepares the way 
For ftirther conquest, and the Saracens, 
Ere thirteen years of this same century 
Had pass'd away, cross over into Spain. 

71 3. Spain was soon overrun ; and twenty years 

See Abderrahman, with his Moslem host, 

I 



A.D. 



732. 



114 



EPITOME OP UNIYERSAL HISTORY. 



aco.7l4,cZ. 741 



acc.741,<Z.768 



Swarming like locusts o'er the fertile plains 

Of Southern France. Who, who, in this dread hour. 

Shall stay their course, and rescue Christendom ? 

The great and famous race of Merovic, 

Sill wore the crown of France ; but, strange to say, 

Their Palace-mayors then exercis'd a rule 

Scarcely inferior to the regal power. 

This was the office held by Charles Martel, 

Who, like his namesake Maccabeeus, rose 

To save his country in its hour of need. 

At Tours, Martel and Abderrahman met : 

The Saracen was slain, and Islamism 

Swept sternly back beyond the Pyrenees, 

A barrier which it never cross'd again. 

But while the Moslem and the Christian thus 
Were fighting for the mastery, the Church 
Beheld within itself a deadly feud. 
The Image-breakers, or Iconoclasts, 
Upheld by Leo, and the Eastern Church, 
Cast off the yoke of image-loving Rome. 
A conflict, long and terrible, ensued, — 
The Greek and Latin Churches, in the end 
Becoming parted, ne'er to re-unite. 

What wonder that the great heroic house 
Of Charles Martel should elbow from the throne 
The now degen'rate Merovingian race, 
To which the Carlovingian thus succeeds. 
Pepin-le-Bref, his son, supplanting soon 
The weak King Childric, mounts the throne of 
France. 



A.D. 



752 to 755. 



I. 742, 
acc.77M.814 



acc.786,c?.808. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEARS. 



115 



Behold the Franks now rising into power. 
A little while, and Pepin's conqu'ring arms 
Prevail in Italy : the Lombard rule 
Is rudely shaken, — soon to be o'erthrown. 
The vanquish'd Lombards the Exarchate lose ; 
And Pepin, in the year sev'n fifty-five, 
Transfers it to the Pope, with many towns ; 
And thus it was that first the Popes obtain'd 
A territorial sov'reignty. The son 
Of Pepin, famous Charlemagne, afterwards 
Confirm' d these new possessions of the Pope, 
And Lombard sway in Italy was gone. 

Charlemagne the Mighty, little Pepin's son. 

Grandson of no less mighty Charles Martel, 

Brought by his mastermind, and conqu'ring sword, 

The Prankish monarchy to such a height, 

As none, since Rome, in Europe had attain'd. 

The mighty German Empire thus arose ; 

The face of Europe underwent a change ; 

And from the time of Charlemagne we may date 

The rise of chivalry, while many a change 

Of customs, and the ways of social life, 

Mark'd a transition to a difierent age. 

Strange as it seems, in all the arts of peace. 

The Saracens at this time far excell'd 

The nations that were then call'd Christendom. 

Cordova, then the capital of Spain, 

And Bagdad, Haroun's fam'd metropolis. 

Were centres both of learning and the arts. 

The Goths had quench'd the classic light of Rome, 



A.D. 



116 



EPITOME OP UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



641. 



And Papal Rome songlit only to confine 
The light of knowledge to the monks, and those 
Who held some office in the Church itself, — 
Lest men should rise to self-reliant thought, 
And thus endanger her supremacy. 
And so it came about, in every land. 
That churchmen fill'd the highest offices, 
And everywhere, as ministers of state, 
Or as ambassadors, upheld the sway 
And temporal supremacy of Rome. 
The Convent and the Court had light enough. 
But all around was dark, — in darkness kept. 
Save where some wise and holy man, like Bede, 
Despite the trammels of the mother Church, 
Shed learning's light upon the world around. 
Still, to the monkish learning of those days 
We owe a debt of gratitude, for that, 
While the great Alexandrine library 
Perish'd beneath the Moslem's ruthless torch, 
Preserv'd for later times the classic lore 
That sheds such lustre over Greece and Rome. 



V32. 



622. 



THE BATTLE OF TOURS. 

At Tours, seven hundred and thirty- two, 
Martel the Saracens overthi'ew. 

Six twenty-two A.D., the year 
Prom which the Moslems date. 

Saw Mahomet's fam'd flight through fear 
Of the Koreishites' hate. 



A.D. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



117 



713. 



732. 



That fam'd Hegira mark'd the birth 

Of Mahomet's false creed ; 
Which soon spread over half the earth, 

Like some rank, deadly weed. 

Few were its followers at first, 

Too quickly they increas'd ; 
Forth like a torrent soon they burst, 

O'erwhelming all the East. 

Scarcely a century had fled. 

Ere a vast Moslem host 
O'er ]^orthern Africa had spread, 

And conquer'd all the coast. 

They cross the Strait, and on they sweep, 

Victorious, over Spain ; 
They cross the Pyrenees so steep ; 

They swarm o'er Aquitain. 

But thanks to thee, brave Charles Martel, 

The West was not enslav'd ; 
At Tours, when Abderrahman fell, 

Europe by thee was sav'd. 



5.742, «cr.77l, 
d. 814. 



• CHARLEMAGlSrE. 

How strangely, yet how surely, 
God works by human means, 

The page of history reveals 
In ever changing scenes. 



A.D. 



118 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 



Yet not alone the righteous 

Are agents of the Lord ; 
The conqueror his bidding does, 

The wicked are his sword. 

Though He may choose a Daniel • 

To prophesy his will, 
Cyrus and Alexander mnst 

The prophecy fulfil. 

800. 'Twas in the year eight hundred. 

That Charlemagne so renown'd. 
As Emperor of all the West 
In Papal Home was crown'd. 

God used this mighty monarch 

To spread abroad the Word 
Amongst the rude and heathen tribes 

That yielded to his sword. 

And yet while Eome's pretensions 
Great Charlemagne now defends, 

And Rome throughout the whole known world 
Her influence extends, 

God's Word, alas, she darken' d, 

By mummeries absurd, — 
And doctrines new, — an easy task. 

When few could read the Word. 

Yet holy men already 

Preach'd against heresies. 
And errors, which the Church of Rome 

Adopted by degrees. 



\.-:r::zL::^..zz:::T:::::-. 



A.D. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEARS. 



119 



acc.786AS0S. 



From Baltic to Atlantic, 

From Elbe to Ebro's banks, 
Great Charlemagne wielded aU supreme 

The sceptre of the Franks. 

Of Christendom his empire 
Completely changed the face ; 

Blending the great Grermanic tribes 
Witl^ B/ome's degen'rate race. 

Monarch o'er half of Europe, 

He truly pav'd the way 
For that more modern social state. 

In which we live to-day. 

Widely his fame extended ; 

Highest of then known rights, 
Haroun Alraschid gave to him 

The cherished Holy Sites. 

Gifted with many virtues 

His character appears. 
Though often stained with cruelty 

In his declining years. 

Mark well how stem a lesson, 
His end may read to pride ; 

Decrepit, and bow'd down with grief. 
This mighty monarch died. 

He found not help or comfort. 
In pomp or earthly things ; 

Religion only could console 
This mightiest of kings. 



A.D. 



120 



EPITOME OP UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 



72. THE NINTH CENTURY. 

The time was now at liand 

When, sweeping from the north, 

Right many a brave and warlike band 
Came from the Baltic forth. 

Bj love of conquest led. 
Hating the Word of Light, 

Full many a land they overspread, 
Like a destroying blight. 

On Erin's favoured shore 

The Word was thriving weU, 

When on its fanes the Northmen pour 
Their fury fierce and fell. 

And then lona falls, 

And meets a ruthless doom ; 
O'erthrown are now its sacred walls, 

And many a regal tomb. 



815. 



Scarcely a single year 

Was Charlemagne in his grave, 
When in the north of France appear 

These Northmen stern and brave. 



1066. 



From Rollo thus came down 
The Norman race of might, 

That won at last the English crown 
At Hastings' famous fight. 



A.D. 



alt. 860. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



121 



829. 



ace. 824. 

871. 
acc.87l,cZ.900, 



Lo ! far and wide resounds 
The Nortkman's battle-cry ; 

And Rnric now in Russia founds 
Its earliest monarcliy. 

But while these warlike swarms 
Still southward fiercely rush, 

And vainly seek by force of arms 
The Christian faith to crush ; 

That faith, in their rude homes 
Shall better far succeed ; 

For look where holy Anschar comes 
To teach it to the Swede. 

France to the Northman sends 
The gospel's heav'nly ray ; 

And soon to Russia it extends 
The dawn of Christian day. 

Meanwhile in this ninth century, 
A change o'er England pass'd ; 

The famous Saxon Heptarchy 
Came to an end at last. 

And Saxon kings begin to reign 
With Egbert at their head ; 

But soon the bold invading Dane 
Fills all the land with dread, 

Till after Ashdown's fatal fight, 
AU unoppos'd they stand ; 

And Alfred, like a homeless wight, 
i^Tow wanders through the land. 



A.D. 



122 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



alt. 837. 



aht 829. 



But Saxon Alfred's was a mind 

Pure, energetic, strong; 
And such but seldom fail to find 

A sure success, ere long. 

The Danish rule he overturns j 

And then his mind applies 
To civilize the land ; and earns 

The names of Great and Wise. 

And all this while, the Church of Rome went on 
In deep'ning darkness sunk, — but growing great. 

Simplicity of worship now was gone : — 

How could it thrive amid such pomp and state ? 

Thp Popes, on fettering men's minds intent, 

The path to heav'n with many a hindrance 
close ; 

Strange and new-fangled doctrines they invent, 
And Transubstantiation* thus arose. 

But never yet without its witnesses 

The pure and apostolic Church had been ; 

And now arose, full famous among these, 
That noble Claude, the Bishop of Turin. 

This bold reformer daringly oppos'd 

All the great errors of the Church of Bome j 

And, in the valleys of the Alps enclos'd. 

His pure and truthful teaching found a home. 

* Transubstantiation was first made an article of faith by 
Innocent III., early ia the 13th century. 



A.D. 



THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



123 



999 to 911. 



The Yaudois' valleys early liad possess'd 

A pure and simple church ; a martyr's blood 

Had even in two ninety been a test 

Of faith that in the heart deep rooted stood. 

Then Ambrose, famous bishop of Milan, 
Oppos'd already in three sev'nty-four 

The innovations papal Rome began. 

Like poison from a fountain head, to pour. 

And many a bright and intermediate link, 
Tho' unrecorded, still kept up the chain 

Of those who ne'er from persecution shrink. 
And still an apostolic faith mamtain. 

Claude of Turin had one of those bold minds 
Whose influence throughout the world is felt ; 

Centuries pass away, and yet Rome finds 

The Church that in those same Swiss valleys 
dwelt. 

Protesting still, in vain she tries to break 
The independent spirit they retain ; 

If brave Waldenses perish at the stake, 
The Reformation proves 'tis not in vain. 



73. THE TENTH CENTURY. 

In the tenth century we hear 

Of more than one new monarchy. 

Poland and Normandy appear ; 
And now we find in Germany 



A.D. 


124 EPITOME OP UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 




How an elective empire rose ; 




Five States an emperor elect ; 


J.876, aec.919, 


Henry the Fowler first they chose 


d. 936. 


The German empire to protect. 




He prudently and wisely reign' d ; 




And gave a striking indication 




How rapidly are sometimes gain'd 




Important steps in cultivation. 


acc.936,cZ.973. 


0th the Great (his son) succeeds; 




All enemies are overcome ; 




Twice his victorious troops he leads 


cr. 962. 


To Italy, — is crown' d at Rome. 




While great successes in the East 




Against Nicephorus are won ; 




And, of his triumphs not the least, 




He finnlly puts down the Hun. 




From Charles the Simple, Normandy 


911. 


(Then kcown as I^eustria) RoUo gains ; 




The light of Christianity 




The newly founded State obtains. 




And over Europe, far and wide, 




New traces of the dawning light 




Seem to arise on ev'ry side, 




Chasing away its Pagan night. 




For Poland (now a kingdom new) 


980. 


And Russia under Vladimir, 




Hungary, Denmark, Norway too, 




Converted to the truth appear. 



A.D. THE FIFTH THOUSAND TEARS. 125 



See Yladimir, witli sword in hand, 
988. Demanding the baptismal rite ; 

And giving forth his stem command 
To Russia to receive the light. 

Nor was it now a province small 

(Thanks to his great successful wars), 

That thus obey'd the lordly call 
Of this the first of Christian Czars. 

Hard is it to be understood ; 

And well may Christians pause and sigh 
To find, in such stern men of blood, 

Champions of Christianity. 

In this tenth century we see 
Increasing monkish influence, 

And superstitious mummery 
Repugnant all to common sense. 

Bells are baptized, and rosaries 

To monkish sway now lend their aid ; 

And superstitious practices 

The Church dishonour and degrade. 



PAET THE FIFTH. 
— ♦ — 

THE SIXTH THOUSAND YEAES. 



A.D. 


THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEARS. 129 




THE SIXTH THOUSA^^D YEAES. 


74 THE CRUSADES. 




Aetse, ye Christian monarclis ! 




Let not the good sword rust, 




While Zion by the infidel 




Is trampled in the dnst ! 




Thus, with the Cross uplifted. 


alt. 1094. 


Peter the Hermit cried ; 




And roused the Christian chivalry 




Of Europe, far and wide. 




A tribe of warlike shepherds. 




Unnoticed, in the East, 




Had, in the last few centuries, 




Most mightily increased. 




This tribe of Turks, or Turkmans, 




Into a nation grew ; 


1038. 


The Caliphs, who had hired their swords. 




At length they overthrew. 




And then great Seljuk founded 




That famous Turkish pow'r, 




Which, spite of aU vicissitudes, 




Has lasted to this hour. 




1 



A.D. 



130 



EPITOME OE UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



1098. 



1099. 
1099. 



Persia, and neiglib'riiig nations 
"Were conqner'd soon by tliem ; 

And now we find them lording it 
Over Jerusalem. 

The Caliphs, wise and prudent, 
Promoting arts and trade, 

On pilgrims from far distant lands 
No heavy burdens laid. 

But hatred to the Christian 
Burn'd in the Turkish breast ; 

And Christian pilgrims now became 
Insulted and oppress' d. 

And thus against the Moslem 
Europe becomes array'd ; . 

And Godfrey and his Christian host 
The Holy Land invade. 

Bight well at first they prosper ; 

The Turkish pow'r they shake ; 
And in one thousand ninety-nine 

Jerusalem they take. 

Then Ascalon's first battle 
Is crown'd with such success, 

That nearly all the Holy Land 
The Christians soon possess. 

And now of Christian monarchs 

A short but famous line 
Holds for a while Jerusalem, 

And reigns in Palestine. 



A.D, 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEAKS. 



131 



1147. 



5.1137, c?.1193 



1187. 



But soon their might decreases, 

Their armies waste away ; 
The Moslem threatens to destroy 

The hateful Christian sway. 

Louis of France (the Seventh) 
With German Conrad's aid, 

Then, in eleven forty-seven. 
Begins the next Crusade. 

Disastrous were their marches ; 

And, after suflF'rings sore, 
They wholly fail'd the Christian pow'r 

In Syria to restore. 

Saladin, Egypt's Sultan, 
Now came upon the scene ; 

And, justly by some wrongs incens'd. 
Took deep revenge, I ween. 

Tiberias soon witness'd 

A fierce and fatal fight ; 
And soon the holy city fell 

Before his conqu'ring might. 

Yet, though it was with Christians 
Such deadly war he waged. 

To him it was a righteous cause 
In which he was engaged. 

Much that is brave and noble 
Gilds Saladin' s great name ; 

Some of his acts might w.ell have put 
The Christian kings to shame. 



A.D. 



h. 1157, 

ace. 1189 

d. 1199 

1190. 



;•! 



132 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



1191. 1191. 



1192. 



The Crescent was triumpliant, 

"WTien Ricliard Lion-heart 
On many a famous battle-field 

IJirow came to play his part. 

Philip of France had joined him, 

And Austrian Leopold ; 
Yet, spite of many sore defeats, 

Their ground the Moslems hold. 

For though such great successes 
The Christian monarchs won, 

Their feuds and quarrels soon undid 
The work their swords had done. 

Yet Ascalon and Acre 

Behold such mighty deeds, 
That Richard's dauntless bravery 

So far at least succeeds. 

That though the Christian kingdom 

Unrecogniz'd remains, 
The rights the Christians valued most 

He from the foe obtains. 

Then later, many an army 

The Holy Land invades ; 
The thirteenth century beholds 

No less than six crusades. 

Anon the Christians conquer'd ; 

Anon the Moslems gain'd 
Such triumphs that the Christian knights 

Scarcely a town retain' d. 



A.D. 


THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEARS. 133 




Louis the Ninth (Saint Louis) 


1249. 


Heading the eighth crusade, 




In Egypt sore disasters met, 




And prisoner was made. j 


1270. 


Still, in the year twelve sev'nty, 1 




He led the ninth and last ; 




And with a great and gallant host 




Over to Tunis pass'd. 




There, to disease a victim. 




He fell on Afi-ic's shore ; 




His army wasted soon away ; 




The last Crusade was o'er. 




Then at the last, proud Acre, 




Last stronghold on the coast. 


1291. 


After a fierce resistance fell 




Before a Moslem host. 




No pen can teU the horrors 




Of all these fierce crusades ; 




How many hundred thousands fell 




Beneath the glitt'ring blades : 




How many scores of thousands 




"Were early doom'd to fall 




Li toilsome march, — and never reach' d 




The scene of war at all : 




How pestilence and sickness 




Perform' d their deadly work; 




Outrivalling the scimetar 




Of the relentless Turk. 



A.D. 



1098 to 1291. 



134 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 



Two centuries the conflict 

Had lasted, and in vain ; 
Up to this very day the Turks 

The Holy Land retain. 

But no, — that mighty struggle 
Could not have been for nought ; 

Some wise and good, though hidden, ends 
Must surely have been wrought. 

Chivalry was the spirit 

Of those rude lawless times, 
That often kept oppression down. 

Thus oft preventing crimes. 

When there was little freedom. 

And small respect for laws. 
Full oft the knightly lance upheld 

The weak but honest cause. 

Then, too, unhappy Europe 

Had intervals of rest ; 
The tide of war, thus eastward roH'd, 

Spared for a time the West. 

And thus the warlike spirit 

Abroad an outlet found ; 
While learning and the arts of peace 

At home were gaining ground. 

Besides, amid this warfare, 

No small advance was made 
In intercourse with foreign lands, — 

The germ of future trade. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEARS. 



135 



But if these were the blessings, 
Think of the fearful cost ; 

In many a hundred thousand lives 
By sword and sickness lost. 

Think of the widow'd mothers ! 

Think of the orphans left ! 
And how it fared with many lands 

Thus of their kings bereft. 

Did not our own fair England, 
While Richard was away. 

Become to lawless violence 
And tyranny a prey ? 

They thought the object holy, 
They cared for nought beside ; 

Forgetting ivhy, they only thought 
Of where the Saviour died. 



I. 1388, 

ace. 1413, 

d. 1422, 



75. FRAIsrCE CONQUERED AND LOST. 

Henry the Fifth of England, 
"When young, all reckless seem'd ; 
But afterwards his character 
E/ight nobly he redeem'd. 

A love of foreign conquest 

Was Henry's greatest stain ; 

He fought to win the crown of France, 

And did not fight in vain. 



A.D. 


136 EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 


1415. 
Oc/. 25,1415. 


Harfleur, in fourteen fifteen, 

First from the French he took ; 

And then the throne of Charles the Sixth 

At Aginconrt he shook. 




Few were the wearied English, 
But stout and true of heart ; 
And, well the English bowmen did 
That day perform their part. 




The foemen's fourfold numbers 

Did but make Henry say 

There were enough to kill and take. 




And some to run away. 


1417. 


His arms, a few years later, 
Were crown'd with like success ; 
And feuds, that rent the court of France, 
Aided him scarcely less ; 




Whilst, by his gallant bearing. 
The hearts of all he won ; 
And Charles the Sixth and Isabel 
Even cast off their son. 


1420. 


And Katherine, their daughter, 
Became King Harry's bride ; 
And treaties made him king of France, 
When Charles the Sixth had died. 


5. 1421, ) 
ace. 1422, V 
d. 1471. ) 


Henry the Sixth, his infant. 
Was also king of France ; 
And Bedford held the land for him 
By dint of sword and lance. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



137 



J.1402,(?.1431 



1429. 



1429. 



1431. 



1558. 



But still there was a Dauphin, 
(As Charles the Seventh known) 
Who would not tamely thus submit 
To lose his father's throne. 

And Joan of Arc, the famous, 
In fourteen twenty -nine 
Compelled the EngHsh host the siege 
Of Orleans to resign. 

Then by her dauntless valour 
She made the foe give ground ; 
Led the victorious Charles to Rheims, 
And caus'd him to be crown'd. 

And now the Maid protested 
Her holy task was done ; 
Alas ! they made her still fight on 
Till fourteen thirty-one ; 

And then her English captors 
Disgraced their noble names, 
By causing this heroic maid 
To perish by the flames. 

But her remember'd valour 

Itself was worth a host ; 

And Charles the Seventh soon regain'd 

The kingdom he had lost. 

One only city, — Calais, — 

In English hands remain'd ; 

And that, till first Queen Mary's reign. 

The English still retain' d. 



A.D. 



138 



EPITOME OF U^nVERSAL HISTORY. 



Was Joan a mere impostor 
"Who reck'd not what she said ; 
Or a sincere enthusiast, 
By fancied visions led ? 

A simple country maiden, 
The battle-field she brav'd, ' 
And from its English conquerors 
Her fatherland she sav'd. 

No stain of blood polluted 

The maiden's conqu'ring sword ; 

And when she thought her task was done, 

She sought for no reward. 

Then at the last, nor threat'nings 
Nor promises can shake 
The fortitude with which she bears 
The torture of the stake. 

Few characters more noble 
In history we see : 
All honour, then, to Joan of Arc, 
Who set her country free. 



1^. FEINTING. 

What would King Alfred have been glad to pay, 
(The best half of his kingdom, I'll be bound,) 

For such a common Bible as to day. 

In the most humble cottage may be found ? 



A.D 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEARS. 



139 



5.1400,<?.1468 
1438. 



abU 1450. 



Many a king and emperor would have thonglit 

The Bible of a little English boy 
A prize inestimable, — cheaply bought 

With all the wealth a monarch can enjoy. 

The fifteenth century found men disturb'd 

By thoughts and hopes that B/Ome kept down 
by might : 

Men's souls by Eome no longer would be curb'd, 
They panted for the truth and for the light. 

One thing was wanting to prepare the way 

Eor that great, glorious work, the Reformation, — 

To bring the Grospel to the light of day, 
And publish it abroad to every nation. 

Grod straightway sent the blessing ; far and wide 
Flew the productions of the Printer's art; 

The copies of the Scriptures mxdtiplied, 
And shed their light on every godly heart. 

Remember well John Gutenberg of Mentz. 

In the year fourteen thirty-eight we find 
Moveable types for printing he invents, 

And earns the gratitude of all mankind. 

The Bible was the first book ever printed ; 

At Mentz in fourteen fifty it came out. 
The art was kept so secret that some hinted 

That Satan's help had brought the work about. 

Two other names are justly handed down : 

John Faust of Mentz, and Peter Schoefi'er, born 

At Gernsheim, share in Gutenberg's renown, 
And Germany's historic page adorn. 



A.D. 



1474. 



140 



EPITOME OF TJNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Caxton, returning from a foreign tour, 
In England first set up a printing press ; 

And printed, fourteen hundred sev'nty-four, 
A work upon the noble Game of Chess ! 



11. THE REFORMATION. 



I. THE DAHKNESS. 



alt. 1500. Behold the world with darkness overspread ! 
Darkness that might be felt ; and it was felt 
By prince and peasant, emperor and serf, 
Blighting and blinding all except alone 
The hierarchy of the Romish Church. 
The mightiest monarch trembled on his throne, 
Awed and subdued, in fear of interdict. 
The baron, who nor king nor kaiser feared, 
Cowered before a ragged, wand' ring monk, 
Lest excommunication might desl-roy 
His soul for ever. In the peasant's cot 
Hardship, and toil, and grinding tyranny 
Weighed down the heart, unsolaced by the rays 
Of love and mercy, sent from God to man, 
That beam from ev'ry page of Holy "Writ. 
The book was closed : the only road to heav'n 
Was blind obedience, not to God, but man. 
And men believed that those immortal souls 
Which 'B.Q by one Atonement had redeem' d. 
Lay at the mercy of a shriving priest ; 
That money paid for masses could avail 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND YEAES. 



141 



To save tliem from the wrath to come. The prayers 

Of saints, or of the Virgin, were believed 

AH powerful before the Throne of Grace ; 

And that one great Atonement, once achieved, 

Was thus dishonour' d. If perchance the priest 

Refused his absolution for a sin, 

The sinner might himself, by torments sore 

Inflicted on himself, propitiate 

(Like Baal's priests with knives and lancets cut,) 

The God of Mercy ; or at least he might 

In Purgatory, after death, pay off 

(Oh impious thought !) the balance due to God. 

His friends or relatives, if wealth were theirs, 

Might, if they chose, and loved him well enough 

To pay for Masses — liberate his soul 

From Purgatory. Yes, his brother might 

Redeem his soul, and ransom give to God. 

If not, he still must burn. It was affirm'd 

That Transubstantiation, at the word 

Of man, — ay, sinful man, — transform' d the bread 

Into the actual very Lord himself 

Whole and entire, — the bread itself being gone ; 

And this soon led inevitably on 

To other dogmas wild, absurd, and strange, 

Defying all belief. Bub then steps in 

The Church infallible, commanding men 

To shut their senses up, and blindly bow 

Before the Pope, nor dare presume to search 

What warranty the Word of God might give 

Por doctrines that were only first put forth 

Centuries after those pure simple truths 

Taught by the Church in Apostolic times. 



A.D. 



142 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



The Churcli of Rome lorded it over all, 

And claim'd and exercised supreme control, 

Both temporal and spiritual too. 

Yet in the deadliest poisons oft are found 

Virtues and qualities of use to man : 

Rome's mighty pow'r was not without its use. 

And doubtless oft was overruled for good. 

Among the Pontiffs there were holy men 

Who used their pow'r aright ; and in those times 

When freedom was unknown, the tyranny 

Of many a prince was doubtless held in check 

By influences exercised by Rome. 

But these were all too few and far between, 

Like lightning flashes, giving light indeed, 

But vanishing full soon and suddenly. 

And only serving plainly to reveal 

The darkness all around. The poison still 

Was there, and still it did its deadly work ; 

And darkness overspread the Christian world. 



II. THE DAWN. 



Darkness ! how great, alas ! that darkness was, 
When that which God had giv'n to men for light 
Was turn'd to darkness thus. Yet even then, 
He who full surely never left himself 
Without his witnesses, from time to time 
Raised up strong-minded men, who would not bow 
The knee to Baal, nor yield up their souls 
That God had rescued, into human hands. 
Monarchs there were who even durst oppose 
The will of Rome, and brave an interdict. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND YEARS. 



143 



b. 1214, 
aec. 1226. 



1268. 

ace. 1285, 

d. 1314. 



1303. 



r.l272 to 1307, 
abt 1303. 



aS^. 400, ^.597 
d. 735. 



&. 296, d. 373. 

^.. 354, d. 430. 
* c?. 407. 
t d. 439. 



Louis the Ninth (Saint Louis, strange to say, 
For he was canonized despite this deed,) 
Stood forth the champion of the Gallic Church, 
And by his great and famous edict, known 
As the Pragmatic Sanction, much curtail'd 
The Papal pow'r in France. Philip the Fourth, 
Surnamed the Fair, in thirteen hundred two 
Resisted the encroachments of the Pope, 
Boldly defying Boniface the Eighth ; 
He burns the Papal bulls, convenes the States, 
Now for the first time thus convened in France, 
And then casts off the Pope's authority. 
Edward the First of England also rose 
Against rapacious and exacting Rome. 
Still Rome remain'd supreme a little while ; 
For weak and bigoted successors marr'd 
The good these braver spirits had begun. 

But humbler men there were, who sought and 

found 
The light in Holy Writ, and then stood forth 
To spread that light abroad. For centuries 
Such witnesses had shone, from time to time. 
Bright lights amid the darkness. Such, in truth, 
Were Succat, and Columba too, and Bede, 
In these our British Isles. In other lands 
Good, holy men from time to time arose. 
And worthily upheld the cause of truth 
Against each great and growing heresy. 
Thus Athanasius in early times, 
Augustine (he of Hippo), Chrysostom,* 
Nestorius,t and Vigilantius, 



A.D. 



144 



EPITOME OP UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



, ^. 726, d. 804. 



from 660. 



I. 330, d. 397. 

aU. 829, 
£?. 1088. 



alt. 1151. 



1179. 



a5^. 1206. 

ace. 1198. 

1209. 



Were cliainpions of the truth ; Paulinus too 

Boldly opposed the errors of the Church ; 

While in Armenia and the East we find 

Paulician Christians holding fast the Word, 

And dying martyrs in its sacred cause. 

Nor was the West without its shining lights : 

The Yaudois Church, and Ambrose of Milan, 

Claude of Turin, and Berenger of Tours, 

And many more, whose great and honour' d names 

Far more adorn the page of history 

Than conquerors, the scourges of mankind. 

About the year eleven fifty- one 

A sect of earnest, holy men arose ^ 

Throughout the south of France, who set themselves 

To spread abroad the Word. Among the first 

Was Peter Waldo, whence they took the name 

Waldenses, tho' oft known by other names : 

" Poor men of Lyons," " Albigenses" too, 

And " Tisserands." They wander' d far and wide 

With merchandize ; and, wheresoe'er they could, 

Scatter'd translations of the Holy Word, 

(The first known versions in a modern tongue,) 

Prepared by Waldo's zeal and piety. 

The Albigenses in the south of France 

Soon felt the burning wrath of Papal Rome. 

The Inquisition, founded recently 

By Innocent the Third, was now confirm'd 

For their destruction. In twelve hundred nine 

And the succeeding years, the fiery sword 

Of persecution did its cruel work 

In Southern France, and wheresoe'er it found 

These daring candidates for martyrdom. 



A.D. 



b. alt. 1324, 
d. 1384 



d. 1400, 
d. 1410. 



dl415,t?.1416. 
d. 1498. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND YEARS. 



145 



Surpass'd by none, well styled the Morning Star 
Of Reformation, wise, devout, and bold, 
Was Wicliffe, who in Second Richard's reign 
Stood bravely forth, and preach'd the Word of God; 
And laying bare the heresies of Rome, 
Taught from the Gospel, as the only source 
Of light and wisdom. England owed to him 
The first translation of the Holy Book 
Complete in English. Following his steps 
Game then the English Lollards. All in vain 
Was persecution's red and ruthless hand 
Put forth against these heralds of the truth. 
Who rather chose to die the martyr's death 
Than turn again to darkness from the light. 
Sawtre and Bradby early met their fate ; 
Lady Jane Boughton and the Lady Young, 
And then Lord Cobham, won the martyr's crown. 
Alas ! the time was not yet come, and Rome 
Extinguish'd with the faggot and the stake 
The shining lights that show'd the path to heav'n. 
And so, abroad, died Huss, Jerome of Prague, 
And, later still, Savonarola too ; 
But not in vain they taught. The minds of men. 
Held hitherto in darkness, now beheld 
All bare the huge deformities of Rome, 
And with them, side by side, pure simple truths 
So long obscured. Chiefest of all, they learn'd 
That God has giv'n to man one only way. 
Through one Atonement, to the life to come. 
Fhey learn'd that no frail being like themselves 
Could save, or doom to punishment, their souls ; 
And that the superstitious mummeries 

L 



A.D. 



146 



EPITOME OF TJNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



And monkish, frauds, relics and images, 
Find no antliority in Holy Writ. 
Though Rome might yet prevail a little while. 
The seed was sown, the harvest could not fail. 
The light was dawning ; stormy clouds, indeed, 
Might hide the sun, but yet the sun was there. 
And soon in Grod's good time a champion came 
To vindicate the cause of Gospel truth. 
And give the Reformation to the world. 



in. THE DAYLIGHT. 

This champion of the light at length arose 
1. 1483. In IMartin Luther. At Eisleben born. 

In fourteen eighty- three — a miner's son. 
He pass'd his early years in poverty. 
We find him singing hymns from house to house 
To earn his daily bread. Then, at fifteen. 
He went to Eisenach ; and, at eighteen. 
To Erfurth University. 'Twas here 
That study, deep and anxious, and the death, 
By lightning, at his side, of one he loved. 
Wrought on a mind in youth devoutly train' d 
Strong deep impressions of religious truth ; 
And Luther, thirsting only for the light. 
World-weary, as an Augustinian monk 
1505. Chose the monastic life. He was ordain'd 

1507. A priest in fifteen hundred seven ; and then 
The following year, when only twenty-five, 

1508. Became Professor of Theology 
At Wittemberg, and taught with great success. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



147 



1510. 



1517. 



h. 1475, 

ace. 1513 

d. 1521 



■] 



His mind was active, clear, and strong ; his heart, 

Unmatch'd for intrepidity, was yet 

Humble and honest, kindly, genial, frank, 

And free from guile. With such a mind and heart, 

Seeking with patient earnestness the truth. 

How could he fail to see that Papal Rome 

Usurp'd, by Masses and Indulgences, 

Rights that belong to God himself alone ? 

Slowly, but irresistibly, arose 

In Luther's mind convictions clear and deep, 

(The key to all his after life,) that Man 

Is justified by Faith. He went to Rome ; 

And all he saw and heard only confirm'd 

His strong convictions, and his honest wrath 

At Rome's false teaching and her mummeries. 

Return'd to Grermany, he soon became 

A Doctor of Divinity ; and then 

His teaching, clear, and eloquent, and bold. 

Drew multitudes of students round his chair. 

His apostohc preaching, too, became 

Renown'd through Germany, and gain'd for him 

(What afterwards he found of priceless worth) 

The friendship and esteem of Frederick 

The Wise, Elector then of Saxony. 

It was in fifteen hundred and seventeen. 
While Martin Luther taught at Wittemberg, 
That Tetzel came across his path. Just then 
Leo the Tenth, seeking to raise the funds 
To renovate St. Peter's church at Rome, 
Was sending monks throughout the Christian 
world ft 



L.D. 



148 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTOKY. 



To sell Indulgences. God will'd it so 
That Tetzel, coarse and clever, had to deal 
With minds debased by want of Gospel light ; 
And consequently his appeals were made 
In coarse, and barefaced, and revolting terms. 
Here was a pardon, for a trifling sum, 
For ev'ry sin ; and not for those alone 
Already done, but for the future too ; 
Not for the living only, but the dead. 
The tree needs lie no longer as it fell : 
" No sooner does the money clink," said he, 
" Than straight the soul from Purgatory flies 
To Heav'n at once." Think ye it was by chance 
That teaching such as this was shouted out 
With vulgar jests, at Martin Luther's door ? 
Straightway he rose, proclaiming to the world 
That such pretences, though put forth by Rome, 
Were false and contrary to Holy Writ. 
On Wittemberg church doors he then affix'd 
Oct. 1517. Ninety-five propositions, setting forth 

That men can not be saved by means like these, 
But only justified by Faith. Then came 
Fierce controversies, till the hot dispute, 
No longer now confined to Wittemberg, 
Spread far and wide ; and earnest, thinking men 
Were found throughout the whole of Germany 
Supporting Luther's views. 

Leo the Tenth 
Then fiU'd the Papal chair, — a clever man, 
And famous friend to learning and the arts, 
But worldly-minded, fond of earthly pow'r, 
And little suited to the drying task 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



149 



1518. 



1519. 



h. 1497, 
d. 1560. 



Of saving Ronie from what now threaten' d lier. 

But Maximilian saw the coming storm, 

And warn'd at last by him, Leo the Tenth 

N"ow summon' d Luther to appear at Rome. 

Frederick interposed his friendly aid ; 

And Luther, who might well indeed have fear'd 

The issue, if compell'd to go to Rome, 

Appear'd before the Legate Cajetan 

At Augsburg. Rome gain'd nothing by this step. 

Luther would not recant. In truth, a man 

Who, like this Romish Legate, could assert 

That as one drop of the Redeemer's blood 

Was all-sufficient to redeem mankind, 

The rest was all entrusted to the Pope 

For his disposal, stood but little chance 

Of turning one like Luther from his path. 

Cajetan's mission thus completely fail'd. 

The courtly Miltitz then was sent to win, 

By gentle means, the bold Reformer back 

To Rome ; — 'twas all in vain. Then next ensued 

The famous Leipsic disputations. Here 

In pubhc a debate was carried on, 

Lasting ten days. The famous Doctor Eck, 

Of Ingolstadt, upheld the Church of Rome ; 

Luther, the Church of God. He took his stand 

On Scripture ground. From Holy Writ alone 

He answer' d all the learned arguments 

Based on the Schoolmen, on traditions old, 

And the decrees of councils ; these were all 

The words of men: his words were those of God. 

Both parties claim' d the victory. But mark ! 

Melancthon, and full many a thoughtful man 



A.D. 



150 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



1520. 



I>ec. 10, 1520. 



1521. 



Had witness' d that debate ; and its effects 

Were soon apparent in tlie rapid growtli 

That Luther's doctrine found, while he himself 

In studying, in thinking, and no less 

In thus debating on the Word of Life, 

Came to this new conviction, that the Pope 

Was really either Antichrist himself, 

Or else his messenger. What wonder then 

That when the Pope, now thoroughly arous'd, 

Issued a Bull to excommunicate 

This bold, rebellious preacher, and condemn'd 

His writings to be burnt, Luther, whose soul 

Was now awaken' d to a new idea, 

At once bade bold defiance to the Pope, 

Burning the Papal Bull at Wittemberg, 

And wholly casting off the yoke of Rome ? 

Remember well that great eventful day : 

In fifteen twenty, and December tenth, 

The new protesting Gospel- Church came forth 

And stood alone, owning no head save Him 

Who came from heav'n to give us light and life. 

Behold the famous champion of the Word 

Summon' d, in April fifteen twenty-one. 

Before the Diet held by Charles the Fifth 

At Worms. Among the princes there he stood, 

Proclaiming earnestly the cause of truth. 

Recant ! they little knew his honest heart, 

Or how such men are strengthen' d from above. 

The edict might be issued : what of that ? 

Luther had toil'd and labour'd night and day, 

Answering, guiding all throughout the land 

Who sought the light, and join'd the holy work. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEARS. 



151 



m. 1524. 



b. 1490, 
ace. 1523, 
d. 1560. 

5.1484ci:.1531 



His doctrines now had firmly taken root ; 

No pow'r on eartli conld now eradicate 

The purer faith. Yet there was risk enough 

That some of his relentless enemies 

Might wreak on Luther their fanatic hate ; 

So the Elector, fearing for his life, 

Convey'd him to the Wartburg. There he liv'd 

Conceal'd from aU his foes ; nor idly pass'd 

His time ; for in that Patmos Luther made 

That great translation of the Holy Word 

Which to this day is used in Grermany ; 

Thus giving to his Fatherland a work 

That would alone have justly earn'd for him 

The blessings of mankind. The closing years 

Of Luther's life (too offc, alas ! the case 

With those who thus have wholly spent themselves 

In serving God and benefiting man) 

Were full of anxious cares. His wedded life 

Was happy, it is true, but he was doom'd 

To see divisions in the rescued Church, 

And grieve at wild excesses which arose 

Out of the liberty so newly found 

And did dishonour to the holy cause. 

But the great work was done. In Germany 

Eull many a prince and province had embraced 

The truth, and shaken off the rule of Rome. 

In Sweden (having bravely freed the land 

From Danish tyranny) judiciously 

Gustavus Yasa led the people on 

To follow in the Reformation's path. 

Switzerland too, by famous Zwingle led, 

Was Protestant. In England Papal Rome 



A.D. 



152 



EPITOME OP UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Soon ceased to be supreme ; and Denmark too, 
And Holland, ctose the light, and broke away 
From Rome. 'Twas all in vain the Diet met 

1530. At Angsburg, fifteen thirty, and conde'mn'd 
The tenets by Melancthon well set forth 
In the far-famed " Confession." To avert 
The storm that threaten'd them, the princes met. 
And form'd for purposes of self-defence 

1531. The League of Smalcalde. "What might now 
have been 

The issue of the struggle, had it then 
Burst forth in all its fury, none can tell. 
But happily the Emp'ror Charles the Fifth, 
Eager that all his empire should unite 
To aid him in his war against the Turks, 
And willing to conciliate, now recall' d 

1532. The Edicts both of Worms and Augsburg too ; 
And Luther, ere his mighty spirit pass'd 

1546. From earth to heav'n, in fifteen forty-six, 

Thus liv'd to see his holy task fulfill' d, — 
The truth triumphant in his Fatherland, 
And half of Europe rescued from the thrall 
Of Papal Rome, — its darkness swept away 
Before the gladd'ning beams of Gospel light. 



78. THE MASSACRE OF BAINT 
BARTHOLOMEW. 



1572. 



The massacre of St. Bartholomew 

Took place in fifteen hundred seventy-two. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



153 



ace. 1560, 
d. 1574. 



ace. 1574, 

d. 1589. 

i.l504,c^.l589, 



5.1550, c^.l 588. 

h. 1553, ") 
ace. 1589, [ 
d. 1610. 3 



King Charles the Ninth of France, a cruel king, 
Did this most wicked and inhuman thing, 
And laid this direst of all royal plots 
Against the Protestants, or Huguenots. 
Henry the Third was Charles's cruel brother ; 
Cath'rine de Medicis their wicked mother. 
How could a deed like this result in good ? 
It fiU'd the land with anarchy and blood. 
The Duke of Guise, a man of dark intrigue, 
Headed the Papists in their famous league ; 
Henry the Fourth, then Monarch of l^avarre, 
Headed the Protestants in that fierce war. 

In Henry of ITavarre much good we find ; 
But yet though brave, and generous, and kind. 
He wanted purity and strength of mind. 

His nature in too soft a mould was cast. 
His impulses were good, but quickly past. 
And he became a Romanist at last. 

And all too well did Charles's plot succeed : 
The consequences of this awful deed 
In France's later history we read. 

She riveted Rome's iron fetters tight ; 

She clos'd her eyes against the dawning light ; 

Her Church sits shrouded yet in Papal night. 

Protestantism is friend to liberty ; 

We look around, and wheresoe'er we see 

Rome still supreme, the nation is not free. 



A.D. 



154 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



79. THE THIRTY TEARS' WAR. 



1534. 
J.1491,rf.l566. 



1545. 



1552. 



They little knew the pride of Papal Rome 

Who thought the newlj rescued Church was safe 

From further danger. In the self-same year 

When Luther gave his Bible to the world 

The order of the Jesuits arose, 

Founded by stern Ignatius Loyola, 

A soldier once, now an enthusiast. 

Protestantism has had no enemy 

More deadly than this famous brotherhood, 

Whose doctrine into proverb now has pass'd, 

That evil, done to benefit the Church, 

Is good and holy. 

Fifteen forty-five 
Saw the great Council caU'd at Trent (prolong'd 
For nearly eighteen years in all), at which 
The claims of Rome were all upheld ; and then 
The Diet, next at Ratisbon convened, 
Confirm'd its force against the Protestants. 
War soon broke out. In fifteen forty- seven 
Mlihlhausen's sore defeat cast down the hopes 
Of Germany ; but not indeed for long. 
Maurice of Saxony soon took the field, 
And so successfully, that he obtain' d 
In fifteen fifty-two the famous peace 
Of Passau, which confirm'd the Protestants 
In civil and religious Hberty. 
Then came a time comparatively calm ; 
It was the calm before a hurricane. 
The reign of Rudolph served to alienate 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



155 



1619 to 1648. 



The motley States beneatli tlie Austrian rule 
From tlie Imperial Crown. Matthias next 
Succeeds to him in sixteen hundred twelve, 
But ere his reign is ended we behold 
Bohemia, one of the revolted States, 
Choose for its king a sterling Protestant, 
In Fred'rick the Elector Palatine. 
'Twas to recover this revolted State 
That Ferdinand the Second, Emperor 
Of Germany, now went to war ; array' d 
With him we find the mighty pow'r of Spain, 
And Maximilian of Bavaria 
Headed the League against the Protestants. 
On Fred'rick's side was many a German prince, 
Determined to uphold the purer faith ; 
And France, though Roman Catholic herself, 
From policy and hate to Austria 
Aided the Protestants in Germany, 
Whilst blindly persecuting them at home. 
Yolumes indeed might scarce suffice to tell 
The various changes of this fearful war, 
Which now from sixteen hundred and nineteen 
To sixteen forty-eight, just thirty years, 
Brought desolation upon Germany. 
Its horrors never yet have been surpass'd. 
Alas ! the sword, drawn in the sacred name 
Of God and of religion, ever strikes 
With tenfold bitterness. The chief events 
May briefly thus be told. The Protestants 
Suffer' d their first and chief defeat at Prague 
In sixteen twenty. Then a famous League 
With Denmark and King Christian at its head 



A.D. 



156 



EPITOME OE UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



5.1583, cZ.1634. 
^».1559,c^.l632, 
1630. 



h. 1595, 
ace. 1611, 
d. 1632. ; 



)5, 7 

11, 

52. 5 



1631. 



1632. 



1634 to 1645, 
1634. 

1648. 



Revived their sinking hopes. And now we see 
The famous Austrian leaders, Wallenstein 
And Tilly, bearing all resistance down ; 
Proud, haughty, and imperious Wallenstein, 
And Tilly, fierce, relentless man of blood. 
Alas for Magdeburg ! too well indeed 
Could she describe the horrors of the war ; 
But she was soon avenged. Tor now appear'd 
Another hero on the battle field. 
Who turn'd full soon the sweeping tide of war. 

In great Grustavus, great alike in peace 
And war, the Protestants at last had found 
A champion worthy of so great a cause ; 
And Leipsic soon saw such a victory, 
That after that renown' d decisive day 
(Although the war yet lasted sixteen years) , 
The Romish cause in Germany was lost. 
Another year roll'd past, and Liitzen's fight. 
Whilst adding one more laurel to his crown, 
Beheld the hero slain ; — his work was done. 
The fights of Nordlingen might cast by turns 
A temporary weight in either scale ; 
But though the German princes made a peace 
With Austria, yet the gallant Swedes we find, 
Join'd with the French commanded by Turenne, 
Gain'd many victories, until at length 
In sixteen forty-eight a peace was sign'd 
At Osnaburg and Miinster, better known 
As the Westphalia peace. Thus finally 
The rights of all were settled and confirm'd : 
The War of Thirty Years was at an end. 



A.D. 



I. 1638, 
ace. 1643. 
d. 1715 



t3,[ 
5. J 



1648. 



1665. 



1668. 



5.1621,dl686, 



^1611,(^.1675 



1672. 



1678. 



-I 



THE SIXTH THOUSAl^^D TEARS. 



167 



80. LOUIS QUATOEZE. 

The long long reign of King Louis Quatorze, 
Which, lasted in all two and seventy years, 

Was fraught with cruel and profitless wars, 

That plunged many nations in sorrow and tears. 

In Sixteen hundred and forty and eight, 
Five years after Louis ascended the throne, 

Westphalia's treaty had settled each State, 

The bounds and the limits of each being shown. 

In sixteen hundred and sixty and five. 
On Flanders his troops irresistibly fell ; 

The Spaniards out of the country they drive, 
And then conies the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. 

A great French Marshal, the famous Conde, 
Led Louis's legions to victory then. 

Whilst all the province of Franche-Comte, 
Was won in a fortnight by Marshal Turenne. 

The Dutch, the next whom King Louis attack' d. 
Were very soon swept nearly out of their land ; 

At last some monarchs the Hollanders back'd ; 
And Wilham of Orange then made such a stand, 

That sixteen seventy-eight, to his cost, 

King Louis, quite foil'd in his lofty design, 

At once, by Nimeguen's treaty has lost 

Both Flanders and aU he had gain'd on the 
Rhine. 



A.D. 



158 



EPITOME OP UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



1697. 



5.1650, cZ.1722. 



1713. 
1715. 



But when of struggles so profitless tired, 

King Louis, exhausted, seems willing to pause, 

His foes by fear or by hatred inspired. 

Make war upon him without any good cause. 

Alas ! full many a city so fair, 

That stood on the banks of the Rhine's rapid 
tide. 
Lights up the stream with a terrible glare. 

And deeply with slaughter its eddies are dyed. 

Stern fate o'er Louis now seems to impend ! 

He calls upon France, and he calls not in vain ; 
And Ryswick's treaty then brings to an end, 

Sixteen ninety-seven, war's terrible reign. 

Once more, ere humbled and broken he died. 
The merciless sword was by Louis unsheathed ; 

Who could refuse, with some right on his side. 
The kingdom of Spain to his grandson be- 
queath'd ? 

Turenne is gone, and the famous Conde ; 

Though had they yet lived it had little avail' d ; 
Where Marlb'rough marshall'd his troops in array, 

Conde or Turenne might full surely have fail'd. 

The direst of struggles must, happily, cease, 
And Louis, most woefully humbled in pride. 

In sev'nteen thirteen concluded the peace 

Of Utrecht, and then two years afterwards died. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEARS. 



159 



81. THE WAR OF THE SPANISH 
SUCCESSIOK 

Come and listen to me ; with a very few lines 
You may put yourself quite in possession 

Of the principal actors, their aims, and designs. 
In the War of the Spanish Succession. 



ace. 1665, 
d. 1700. 



Charles the Second of Spain, son of Philip the 
Fourth, 
Had no children ; and so to his crown, 
While the king was yet living, three claimants 
stood forth — 
In their order we'll set them aU down. 



First, King Philip the Fourth's eldest daughter 
(her name 

Was Maria- Theresa) was spouse 
Of King Louis Quatorze, so he put in a claim 

For the Dauphin, the heir of his house. 

Second, Leopold's Empress, like Louis's Queen, 
Was a daughter of Philip the Fourth ; 

So her grandson — the Prince of Bavaria, I mean — 
Had a title of no little worth. 



Thirdly, Leopold, Austria's Emp'ror, preferr'd 
A fair claim by descent from his mother, 

Because she was a daughter of Philip the Third, 
So that Philip the Fourth was her brother. 



A.D. 



160 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



1699. 



N^ow a female, by old Salic law, over Spain 

Could not reign, thongli Iter male issne might ; 

So if tMs had been all, then the Dauphin, 'tis plain, 
Or the Prince, would have had the best right. 

But both daughters of Philip the Fourth had in 
fact, 
When they married, relinquish'd all claims ; 
So 'twas urged that their heirs were not bound by 
an act 
To which they had not set their own names. 

Well, the monarchs, of war audits horrors afraid, 
A more peaceful arrangement devise ; 

And amongst them a treaty was very soon made, 
To divide the magnificent prize. 

But the stern hand of death set their treaty aside, 
And defeated their peaceful design ; 

The Electoral Prince of Bavaria died 
In the year sixteen ninety and nine. 

On this, Leopold, Louis, and William the Third, 
Tried their hands at a treaty again ; 

But now one or the other the matter deferr'd 
Until all their endeavours were vain. 

For the wretched career of King Charles now was 
run ; 
He, in seventeen hundred, died, too ; 
And his throne he bequeath' d to the French Dau- 
phin's son — 
Namely Philip, then Duke of Anjou. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEARS. 



161 



1701. 



France and Austria soon went to war for the 
plunder ; 

But with neither was England allied, 
Until Louis committed a very great blunder, 

And thus drove her to Austria's side. 

For in seventeen hundred and one, ex-King James 
Died in France, as no doubt you have heard ; 

And then openly Louis acknowledg'd the claims 
Of his son, whom he styled " James the Third." 

Then King William, who had until now stood aloof, 
Watching all with his eagle-ey'd glance, 

Against such a plain insult as this was not proof, 
And at once declared war against France, 

The war lasted for nearly the whole of Anne's 
reign. 

And all Europe was terribly shaken ; 
Many ancient possessions were wrested from Spain, 

And Gibraltar by England was taken. 

And great Marlborough's triumphs on Louis's 
brow 
Soon imprinted fall many a furrow ; 
While in Spain the strong walls of Montjuich had 
to bow 
To eccentric, but brave Peterborough. 

Marshals Villeroi, Catinat, Boufflers, Tallard, 

Many famous, great victories lost ; 
They had taught their opponents the science of 
war. 

And they now found it out to their cost. 



1704. 



1705. 



1. 1658, 
d. 1735. 



A.D. 


162 EPITOME OF UNIVEKSAL HISTOET. 


I. 1654, 
d. 1712. 


Yet, before the war closed, tlie great Due de Yen- 


dome 




And great Yillars such victories gained, 




That King Philip the Tiffch in his new Spanish 




home 




Undisputed as monarch remained. 


1713. 


And the Treaty of Utrecht, in sev'nteen thirteen, 




Where the limits of France were concern'd, 




Grave her back all that Marlb 'rough and noble 
Eugene* 


* I. 1663, 
d. 1736. 




By their signal successes had earn'd. 




82. N-ARVA AND PULTOWA. 




Charles the Twelfth and Peter the Great 


1700. 


In seventeen hundred at N'arva fought ; 


I. 1672, 


Peter suffer' d a great defeat, 


d. 1725. 


Though eight to one to the field he brought. 


1709. 


Nine years later Pultowa's field 




Beholds a change in the chance of war ; 




Kow the Swedes to the Russians yield, 


ace. 1697, 


And Charles succumbs to the conqu'ring Czar. 


c^. 1718. 






Pultowa well may claim a chiefest rank 




Amongst the battle-fields of modern days ; 




Russia this famous victory may thank 




Por the great part she now in Europe plays. 



A.D. 



aec. 1462. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



163 



E,uric the Russian monarcLj began ; 

Then it owed much to Vladimir's bold sword : 
Then, overrun by warlike Grenghis Khan, 

The land was held by many a Tartar horde. 

And then brave Alexander Nevsky broke 

The Tartar rod with which the land was scourged; 

Ivan the Third wholly cast off the yoke, 
And Russia from its rudest state emerg-ed. 

Yet, sunk in barb'rous ig-norance, the land 
Govern'd by brutal monarchs still remained, 

Till, under Peter's energetic hand, 
Civilization it at once attain' d. 

Perhaps no other nation ever made 

Such mighty progress in so short a space ; 

And had not Peter's bold designs been stayed, 
Europe might now have worn a diff 'rent face. 

But ISTarva check'd him first ; and then the Turk, 
After Pultowa, foil'd him on the Pruth ; 

And Russia furnished him with nobler work 
Than foreign thrones to conquer and uproot. 

Great statesmanship and energy we see. 
And courage too, display'd in Peter's life ; 

But vices low, and selfish cruelty. 

In this great Russian's character were rife. 

Sweden, meanwhile, had not essay'd in vain 
Amongst the thrones of Europe to stand forth. 

Gustavus Yasa freed her from the Dane ; 
And then the famous " Lion of the North" 



A.D. 



164 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTOET. 



Gave to her arms a fame surpass'd by none, 
And diaries tlie Twelfth, at eigliteen years of age, 

Bade fair to rival him of Macedon, 
And claim in history a glorious page. 

But Charles, altho' a hero in the fight, 

Was half a madman, reckless, coarse and rude ; 

And, holding ev'ry rule of prudence light. 
By Peter's genius he was soon subdued. 

Thus the dominion of the North engaged 
In deadly war these monarchs of renown, 

Whilst Austria, France, and England, fiercely waged 
Their famous war about the Spanish crown. 

Pultowa's fight the self-same year was fought 
As that which Marlb' rough gained at Malplaquet: 

Old Louis and young Charles ahke were taught 
How quickly earthly glories pass away. 

They learn'd what Charlemagne too had learn'd 
before. 

And what Napoleon yet was doom'd to learn, 
The days of Empires vast, like those of yore, 

On Earth are destin'd never to return. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



165 



1756. 



1757, 1757, 
1758. 



1762. 
1763. 



83. THE SEVEN TEARS' WAR. 

The Seven Tears' War was brought on by the 
Prussians, 
(King Ered'rick the Great having seized on 
Silesia,) 
The Anstrians, leagued with French, Saxons, and 
Russians, 
Asserting the rights of Maria-Theresa. 

The war in sev'nteen fifty-six was begun ; 

And Fritz (though he met some defeats with his 
Prussians), 
At Rossbach, and Leuthen, and Zorrendorf, won 
Great victories over French, Anstrians, and 
Russians. 

How all might have ended is doubtful indeed ; 

But Peter the Third became Czar of the Russians, 
Deserting the cause ; — soon the others secede ; — 

Silesia remain'd in the hands of the Prussians. 



84. AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. 

When boys have grown too old for schools. 

And enter into life as men. 
What parent would enforce the rules 

By which he govern' d them tiU then ? 

When Albion's sons had learn' d to roam 
Oer the wide world, on daring wings, 

They would not brook that those at home 
Should hold them yet in leading-strings. 



A.D. 



166 



EPITOME OF UNIYEESAL HISTORY. 



1773-1774. 



June 16, 1775. 



Oct. 17, 1777 



Sept. 1777. 
Sept. 1777. 



♦ h. 1732, 

d. 1799. 

Feb. 1776. 

Oct. 29, 1781 



So it fell out in sev'nty-five, 

Her sons across th' Atlantic Ocean 

Britannia manag'd thus to drive 
Into rebellion and commotion. 

Old England wrathfuUy insists 

On duties, both on tea and stamps ; 

Young England stubbornly resists 

What, as she thinks, her progress cramps. 

Yow not where thou canst not command : 
Till he should crush them George the Third 

Yow'd he would never sheathe the brand ; 
They triumph'd — and he broke his word. 

Loud riQg the shouts in Faneuil Hall ! 

Boston is first to strike the stroke j 
To arms, to arms ! is now the call ; 

Away with Britain's hateftd yoke ! 

They win the fight at Bunker's Hill, 
At Bennington, and other fields ; 

And, lo ! a greater vict'ry still ! 
Burgoyne at Saratoga yields. 

But they, too, some repulses meet ; 

The English Philadelphia master ; 
Brandywine brings a sore defeat ; 

And Valley Forge still worse disaster. 

Lord Howe, hemm'd in by "Washington,* 

Boston at length evacuates ; 
Worse failure, too, in eighty-one, 

Cornwallis at York Town awaits. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND YEARS. 



167 



In eighty-two a peace we find 
At Paris sign'd ; in eighty-three 
Sept 3, 1783. Britannia every claim, resigned, 

And own'd Columbia wholly free. 

In sev'nteen hundred sev'nty-six 

They made that famous Declaration, 
From which in history we fix 
July 4, 1776. Their independence as a nation. 

Yes ! all men are born free and equal ! 

Great, glorious code of human right ! 
Alas ! it turn'd out in the sequel, 

" All men" meaut " all whose skins are white. 

And slavery, that dire disgrace — 
That blot upon the human name — 

That foulest stigma of our race, — 
Tarnish' d Columbia's flag and fame. 

True, she but did as others did ; 

'Tis an excuse too oft thought ample ; 
But when for freedom thus she bid, 

She should have set a great example. 

And when, at last, the nations came 
To cast away so foul a stain ; 

At least she might have done the same ; 
But no, she still held fast the chain. 

Lo ! as some dread distemper wears 

And saps the strongest frame at length — 

So, in herself, Columbia bears 

The bane that shall destroy her strength. 



A.D. 



168 



EPITOME OF TJNIVEESAL HISTOET. 



No foreign State or outward foe 
She needs to deal the fatal thrust ; 

She, she herself, shall strike the blow 
That lays the Union in the dust. 



85. ITALY. 

What ! shall Italy rise, and sit in the Council of 

nations ? 
Mistress once of the world, her glory is surely 
departed. 
409 & 410. Did. not barbarous Goths dishonour the tombs of 
the Caesars ? 
452. Did not Huns defile the soil once trod by Ca- 

millus ? 
455. Did not Genseric's Yandal hordes encamp in the 

Forum ? 
Rome, imperial Rome, so lately the terror of 
nations, 
476. Prostrate lay in the dust at the feet of the stern 

Odoacer. 
Who shall bid her arise, renewing the pride of her 
eagles ? 

Italy did but sleep ; the fire, not wholly extin- 
guish' d, 

Smouldering lay conceal' d under Rome's soul- 
stifling oppression. 

Still from time to time that fire, pent up in her 
bosom. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND YEAES. 



169 



aht. 452. 
800. 

.1468,<?.1560. 
1528. 



l/roTO alt. 1260 
to 1380. 



1380. 



Full on tlie wondering world burst fortL in tlie 

splendour of genius, 
Shedding a liglit on tlie gloom of dark Mediaeval 

enslavement. 
Italy no more one, but rent into many republics. 
Still both in arms and in arts outshone all the 

nations around her. 
Venice, throned on her isles, brought back the 

proud days of the ancients. 
Nearly a century old, outrivalling aged Camillus, 
Dandolo sprang from the deck, on the conquer'd 

walls of Byzantium. 
Venice, founded at first by scatter 'd bands of 

Veneti, 
Flying in fear of the Huns — and soon a State in- 
dependent — 
Though its far-famed capital first was built in 

eight hundred. 
Grenoa too, may proudly boast of a Doria, famous, 
Mighty in peace and in war, who cast ofi" the yoke 

of the Frenchman. 
Europe ne'er had beheld such great and powerful 

navies, — 
Grreat in commerce and war, — as those of these 

rival republics. 
Which for a hundred and twenty years still carried 

on warfare. 
Till (like Athens of old), in thirteen hundred and 

eighty, 
Genoa, too, her -/^gos Potamos found at Chiozza. 
Glorious days were those when proudly floated 

their standards 



A.D. 



170 



EPITOME OP UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



1492. 



1508. 



S.1448,dl492 



5.1483,(^.1520. 
S.1474,£Z.1564. 



Wheresoe'er on tlie wide, wide seas bold mariners 

ventured ! 
Mark howtlie great Crusades increase their wealth 

and importance, 
Destin'd still to last till brave and skilful Columbus 
Gave a new world to the old, and Spain and 

Portugal then rose 
Into the chiefest rank among great and flourishing 

nations. 
Fifteen hundred and eight beheld four powej'ful 

monarchs 
(Ferdinand, called the Catholic, Louis the Twelfth, 

Maximilian, 
Joined with Julius the Second,) combined for the 

downfal of Yenice. 
Thus by the league of Cambraj, this great and 

mighty republic 
Fell from its lofty estate, for ever deprived of its 

glory. 

Florence, home of the Arts! thou, too, under 

famous Lorenzo, 
Over the whole wide world hast shed the rays of 

thy genius. 
What shall we ever behold that may rival the 

bright inspiration. 
Speaking home to the soul, in Raffaelle's lovely 

Madonnas, — 
Chiefest star of a host? Or who shall excel 

Buonarotti ? 
Whose dull, senseless heart thrills not with an 

answ'ring emotion 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEARS. 



171 



5.1544,£Z.1595 

S.1474,<Z.1533 
6.1265,6^.1321 



Over the glorious page of the song of the chival- 
rous Tasso ? 

Bold Ariosto too, and stem, wild, fanciful Dante, 

Told to the world that Italy's day was not yet 
departed. 

Yet once more she sank. All the world might 
bask in the sunshine 

Shed abroad by her sons, in poetry, science, and 
painting ; 

Yet, divided at home, we behold her States ever 
changing, 

Torn by the deadliest feuds, or subdued by foreign 
invaders. 

Lo ! this day we behold the sons of Italy rising, 

Filled with chivalrous thoughts of Italy one and 
united. 

Still we know not the end, and time alone shall 
disclose it : 

Whether these various States, led on by the bold 
Garibaldi, 

Yet shall unite once more, despite of the Pope and 
the Hapsburg, 

Thus reviving again a strong and powerful king- 
dom, 

Mighty and great as of old, with a voice in the 
Council of iN'ations. 



A.D. 



172 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 



86. ASIATIC CONQUEST. 

If o'er the western world we glance, 
Tlie oldest records time hath, spared 

Sink into insignificance, 

With Eastern history compared. 

Assyria's realm had pass'd away. 
And Judah's race was nearly run, 

Before the European sway 

Of Greece and Rome had well begun. 

Thus mighty ancient Egypt too, 

Through distant ages grand and grim. 

Rises fall early to our view. 
Founded at first by Mizraim. 

The loftiest works that man can show, 
Constructed by the human hand, 

Built forty centuries ago, 

Still undestroyed in Egypt stand. 

Europe was sunk in ignorance 

Eor centuries ; while many a nation 

In Asia had made great advance 
In science and in cultivation. 



'Tis said the Babylonians knew 
The science of astronomy, — 

And we may well believe it true,- 
Eull twenty centuries B.C. 



A.D. 


THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEAES. 173 


B.C. 


Little indeed is known to us 




Of China ; but its greatest sage, 


h. 551, d. 470. 


The famous, wise Confucius, 




Already in an early age 

n 




Was flourishing ; five fifty-one 




B.C. beheld the sage's birth ; 




And Pericles had not begun 




To rule before he pass'd from earth. 




Then in the great fifth century 




That saw the fall of ancient Rome, 




The Huns, from near the Caspian Sea, 


A.D. 


Abandoning their savage home. 


alt. 445. 


Invaded Europe's fertile plains ; 




And even to this day we see 




Of that invasion the remains 




In what is now called Hungary. 




Then came the Saracens, and fell 


■ 


With sweeping fury on the West ; 


732. 


Though check' d at Tours by Charles Martel, 




Spain they for centuries possess'd. 




And then the Turkish Empire rose 


1038. 


(Ten thirty-eight it first began) ; 




Soon it subdued all Eastern foes 


1453. 


And part of Europe overran. 


5.1163,(^.1227 


The fierce and mighty Genghis Khan, 




Born in eleven sixty-three. 




Might well be call'd a scourge of man. 




So profligate of blood was he. 



A.D, 


174 EPITOME OF UNTVEESAL HISTOET. 


125. 


He conquer' d China's capital, 




And then the whole of Tnrkistan ; 




Behold the King of Tangnt fall 




Before the sword of Genghis Khan. 




From China, in the East, as far 




As Persia, in the West, his throne 




Was founded on successful war. 




Enlarged from Tartary alone. 




Yet think by what a gory way 




He at this mighty pow'r arrives ! 




His victories, historians say. 




Cost Man about five million lives. 


1227. 


At last, twelve twenty-sev'n, he died. 




What came of all the blood he spilt ? 




Eour of his sons at once divide 




The mighty empire he had built. 


5.1335,(^.1405. 


Fierce and ambitious Tamerlane, 




Or Timour, next in Asia rose 




To sweep the East, a name to gain. 




And found a realm on human woes. 




Bom thirteen thirty- five, we see 




Him treading soon the path to pow'r ; 




His warlike hordes victoriously 




O'er Persia and Khorassan scour. 




Bagdad is won. The thunderbolt 




Then lights on India ; Delhi falls, 




But from its plains a fierce revolt 




To Bagdad soon his sword recalls. 



A.D. 


THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEARS. 175 




Then towards the West his legions poured ; 




And ere his sun in crimson set, 




Damascns yielded to his sword, 


def. 1402. 


And Timonr conquer' d Bajazet. 


d. 1403. 


' 


1405. 


He died in fourteen hundred five. 




I^ot long his mighty empire stood ; 




It did no more than just survive 




The man who founded it in blood. 


5.1618,cZ.l707. 


And then of Aurungzebe we read : 




Fierce, skilfiil, and courageous too, 




By many a bold and daring deed 




The Mogul pow'r he overthrew. 




He died in seventeen hundred seven, ' 




Of these stern conquerors the last ; 




For soon, such was the will of Heav'n, 




India beneath our sceptre pass'd. 




At first a few bold merchants there 




Engage in commerce and in trade ; 




But when some Indian princes dare 




Their rights to threaten and invade, 




A.hero rises up, whose fame 




The world itself will not survive ; 




And England may be proud to claim 


5.l725,cZ.l774. 


Among her sons the noble Clive. 


1751. 


Arcot beheld his daring skill ; 


1757. 


And Plassy's field, soon after, gain'd 




That mighty hold which Britain still 




Has for a century retain'd. 



A.D. 176 EPITOME OP UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 

Yet was this conquest not for nonglit. 

Britain ! beware, lest tlion be found 
Glory and commerce to have sought, 

Yet to have fail'd to spread around, 

Amongst the heathen at thy feet, 

The knowledge Grod has given to thee 

That knowledge, at the judgment seat, 
A witness sure and stem shall be. 



87. DISCOYERY. 



Amongst the friends of humankind 
A noble station those may claim, 

"Who, with a bold aspiring mind 
Yet choose a peaceful road to fame. 

Of all the means that influence 

The welfare of society, 
Kone, surely, can be more immense 

Than great discoveries at sea. 

Through them the knowledge of the Word 
Over the wide, wide world is spread ; 

And Grod's life-giving message heard. 
Where all, indeed, had else been dead. 

And much that God bestows on us 
For comfort, happiness, and ease, 

Is placed at our disposal thus 

From distant lands beyond the seas. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAl^D TEARS. 



177 



1497—1517. 



1500. 



1513. 



And many, too, wlio gladly wonld 
To honest labour turn their hands, 

Thus only find a livelihood 

(Denied at home) in distant lands. 

Then let us note a few of those 
Who on the wide and pathless sea 

Thus chiefly to distinction rose, 
By some new, great Discovery. 

Old Marco Polo, first they say, 
Late in the thirteenth century. 

Found out that east of China lay 
A vast and island-studded sea. 

From Europe's anxious, eager view 

America lay all conceal' d. 
Until, in fourteen ninety-two, 

Columbus first her shores reveal' d. 

Vasco de Gama 'twas who found. 
In fourteen ninety-seven, the way 

To India, by the passage round 

The Cape, unknown till Yasco's day. 

Then the Cabots, two Frenchmen bold, 
Up the St. Lawrence made their way ; 

And many new-found regions told 
How they explored America. 

Cabral was first to find Brazil. 

On Yasco de Balboa, first, 
Gazing in wonder from a hMl, 

The sight of the Pacific burst. 



A.D. 



178 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Magellan, history relates, 

Was first to sail completely round 
The world ; he through Magellan's Straits 
1520. A path to the Pacific found. 

1616. In sixteen hundred and sixteen 

Came Schouten's passage round the Horn 
He call'd the Cape that he had seen, 
After the place where he was born. 

Though Torres really, it would seem, 
1506. Sighted Australia as he pass'd 

Through Torres Straits, he did not dream 
Of any continent so vast. 

Dirk Hatichs on the Western coast 
1616. Discover' d first its great extent ; 

And may perhaps most justly boast 
Of having found this Continent. 

Then Bougainville, in later times, 

Sail'd round the world ; and others, too. 

Explored unknown and distant climes, 
Still finding something strange and new. 

England has had full many a son 
On whose discoveries we look 
With honest pride ; but surely none 
1. 172S. More worthy of renown than Cook. 

Twice wholly round the world he sails, 
1770. (A task by no means then so light 

As now) discov'ring IsTew South Wales, 
And many regions rich and bright. 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



179 



d. 1779. 



At length, Ms country's boast and pride, 
This famous searcher of the sea 

A victim to his duty died 
By savage hands at Owyhee. 



88. THE FRENCH REV0LUTI01>r. 



I. CAUSES. 

Oppressive taxes, join'd to royal waste, 

Unjust, and useless wars, these are the crimes, 

"With haughty nobles, and a Court unchaste. 
That lead to troublous and rebellious times. 

'Twas so in France ; and hapless Louis Seize, 
Although himself of such things innocent. 

Dies on the scaffold, and unjustly pays 
The penalty of past misgovernment. 

The hurricane of conquest sweeps the scene 
With sudden desolation far and wide ; 

And where a great and mighty realm had been. 
Soon nought but crumbling ruins are descried ; 

While literature, like the gentle breeze, 

ISTot strength alone and healthful vigour brings 

Too oft the seeds of death and dire disease 
It bears upon its slow and poison' d wings. 

The few will ever for the many think ; 

And if their thoughts and writings be impure. 
The many, who from poison'd sources drink, 

Show the result ; — 'tis slow, but not less sure. 



A.D. 



6.1712,(^.1778. 
6.1694,c^.l778 



1781. 



Feh. 22, 1787. 



1788. 
May 7, 1789' 



180 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



Rousseau, Voltaire, and others in their day, 
Wielded no other weapon than a pen ; 

But deadly and destructive was the sway 
They exercised upon the minds of men. 

It is, in truth, impossible to doubt 

That all the pois'nous seed which they had sown 
In France, did much indeed to bring about 

The fearful storm that overturn' d the throne. 



II. THE STATES-GENEEAL. 

And France like one immense volcano lay, 
The pent up fires of anarchy and strife 
Scarcely conceal'd beneath a fair outside ; 
While fitful, hollow murmurings at times 
Gave awful presage of her coming fate. 
N'ecker had been dismiss'd ; the only man 
To whom the nation gave its confidence. 
Calonne was little able to avert 
The total bankruptcy that threaten'd France. 
The Notables, in sev'nteen eighty-seven, 
Were then conven'd ; and they at last agreed 
To tax themselves, — the great ones of the State,- 
And bear some portion of the burthens laid 
Upon the people. But as easily 
Might some vast, falling fabric be sustain'd 
By straws and rushes. After this, Brienne 
Was call'd to take the helm, but all in vain ; 
And ISTecker was recall'd. By his advice 
The Three Estates, call'd the States- General, 
In eighty-nine at Paris were conven'd. 



A.D. 



5.1749, t?.1791 



5.l747,c^.l793. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEARS. 



181 



III. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. 

All seem'd to promise well. There seem'd a hope 
That France might yet be sav'd. Yain hope, indeed ! 
The Tiers-Etat, or Commons, rose at once 
In bold defiance. It proclaimed itself 
The National Assembly, and assumed 
In stern effect the government of France, 
Though for a while the throne might yet exist. 
Fierce, wild debates ensued, in which the voice 
Of Mirabeau resounded over all ; 
And France, by hot and headlong passions led, 
Swept madly on to Revolution's goal. 
Now many a noble too, the torrent swell' d : 
Highest of all, and basest, was the Duke 
Of Orleans, though the cousin of the king, — 
Ejiown better by the name " Egalite." 
Powerful minds indeed were some of those 
That led the revolution ; yet, alas ! 
The most were cruel, low, and profligate. 
Few, in the end, — noble or lowly born, — 
Of those who fann'd the fierce, devouring flame, 
Escap'd the cruel fate to which they doom'd 
Thousands on thousands of their countrymen. 
Amongst the chiefest of them all we find 
Mirabeau, Danton, Robespierre, and Marat. 
The first alone (who for his selfish ends 
Sought, ere he died, to stay the avalanche 
That his bold voice had brought upon the land) 
Escap'd a death by violence. 

And now 
Behold the populace, to fury rous'd. 



A.D, 



182 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Julyl% 1789. 



June 16, 1790 



Oct. 6, 1789. 



1790. 



Storming the dread Bastille, and casting down, 

With those gaunt, low'ring walls, the tyranny 

That long had crush'd the liberties of Trance. 

Yes ! It was swept away. Bat there arose, 

Instead of it, a direr tyranny. 

That fatal day the tiger tasted blood : 

That day in France a reign of blood began, 

As yet unparallel'd. Full soon we see 

The National Assembly rooting out 

All titles and distinctions, by decrees. 

Which, breaking down all wholesome barriers, 

Led on the lowest, vilest profligates, 

To treat as crimes that call'd aloud for blood, 

High rank and noble birth. What wonder then 

That monarchy should fare the worst of all ! 

Already, in the previous year, the mob 

Had fiercely storm' d Versailles ; and Lafayette 

Just barely saved from violence and death. 

Amidst the slaughter of the faithful Guards, 

The hapless king and queen, and tbose they lov'd. 

To Paris they were brought, and there remain' d, 

Appearing free, — but, prisoners in truth, — 

Till actual imprisonment and death 

Ended the tragic scene. 

Full many laws the new Assembly made, 

Altering ev'rything ; the land itself 

Into Departments was divided. Soon, 

Unable to obtain supplies of funds 

To carry on the government, they made 

Vast confiscations of the property 

Belonging to the Church ; demanding, too. 

Oaths of allegiance, which but few indeed 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND YEAES. 



183 



June 20, 1791 



Se^t. 3,1791. 



Se-^t. 14 



8e:^t. 30. 
1792. 



Of all the clergy would consent to take. 
As for the nobles, their estates, of course. 
Were seiz'd upon. Nobles and clergy too, 
And all who now can manage to escape. 
Quit their devoted land, and emigrate 
To foreign countries, or enrol themselves 
Amongst the forces headed by Conde, 
And gather'd on the frontier, in the hope 
Of striking soon a blow for royalty. 
To flee from Paris an attempt was made 
By Louis and his queen, in ninety-one ; 
'Twas all in vain. Ketaken at Yarennes, 
They were conducted back, to linger on 
Yet for a little while, — mere shadows now 
Of royalty. September, ninety-one. 
The great Constituent Assembly gave 
Its Constitution forth. The king went down, 
And swore to hold it all inviolate. 
Again there was a lull, — a ghastly pause ; — 
It was the fearful stillness that precedes 
The howling tiger's leap upon his prey. 



IV. THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. 

The old Constituent Assembly next 
Dissolv'd itself, as though its work were done : 
One, call'd the Legislative, took its place. 
Danger now threaten' d from the foreign powers. 
Which long had held aloof for very fear 
Lest interference should arouse the ire 
Of France, and thus endanger Louis' life. 



A.D. 



184 



EPITOME OF (TNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



July 25, 1792 



Sept. 20. 



Ang. 10. 



They took up arms in seventeen ninety-two ; 

The Duke of Brunswick, in the chief command 

Of an invading army on the north, 

Issued a manifesto, threat'ning France 

With chastisement for all her cruel work. 

It seal'd the fate of thousands, and indeed 

Cut off all hope, if any hope remain'd. 

For Louis and poor Marie- Antoinette. 

Some small successes Brunswick gained at first 

At Longwy and Yerdun ; but France was rous'd, 

And Yalmy's victory, ere long proclaim'd 

The mighty conqu'ring spirit, destin'd soon 

To lay full many a nation in ^e dust. 

The Revolution triumph' d : Yalmy's fight, 

The glory of the elder Kellermann, 

Decided Europe's fate in that of France. 

Meanwhile the sight of an invading foe 

Had rous'd afresh the passions of the mob. 

We pause with horror at the fearful scenes 

That then ensued. A rabble, fierce and fell, 

In August had attack'd the Tuileries, 

And massacred the Swiss who form'd the Guard ; 

While Louis would have shared the self-same fate 

With all he lov'd, had he not taken flight, 

And sought a refuge in the very walls 

Of the Assembly. Now the hour had come 

For sterner measures : they were aU confin'd 

Captives within the Temple's gloomy walls. 

Insulted by the lowest of the low, 

They yet maintain'd a calm and holy peace. 

The lives of Louis and his family. 

While thus confin'd, a touching picture form 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEAKS. 



185 



Of resignation and domestic love. 
Alas ! tlie deadliest passions now broke loose, 
And massacres of savage cruelty 
E-eign'd all nnclieck'd ; and not indeed alone 
At Paris ; Lyons, Orleans too, and Rheims, ' 
And other cities, vied in cruel deeds 
With Paris ; thougli we chiefly hear of those 
Which there befel. And none of them surpass'd 
The horrors of the wholesale massacres 
Sept. ' Of thousands in the sad Bicetre's walls ; 

And then the slaughter of the priests who died 

Extorting admiration e'en from those 

Who did the fearful work. And then we come 

To those mock trials, hastily got through, 

To sweep away all traces that remain'd 

In France of rank or of nobility ; 

The forms of Justice were too slow to meet 

The savage thirst for blood ; and thus we find 

Hundreds of victims daily doom'd to die, 

Like the pure, gentle, beautiful Princess 

De Lamballe. But we draw the veil, and pause 

In horror at the dread and awful thought. 

That those who did these fearful deeds were men. 

Men like ourselves ; many, perhaps, had been 

As loving, kindly, and affectionate. 

And thought as little they should ever come 

To such a heart of blood. Be Avarn'd by them ! 

Once leave the path of love and holiness, 

Once cast aside the wholesome fear of God, 

Once lose the reverence for holy things. 

And there is n*othing base and devilish 

That even thou mayst not become at last. 



A.D. 



186 



EPITOME OF UNIYEESAL HISTORY. 



Sept. 21, 1792, 
Sept. 22. 



Bee. 11, 1792, 



Jan. 21, 1793, 



Oct. 16, 1793, 



y. THE NATIONAL CONTENTION. 

The ifsTational Convention now sprang up, 

And govern'd France awhile. Its first decrees 

Proclaim'd that monarchy was at an end, 

And France was a E/cpublic. Ev'rywhere 

Men aim'd at imitating ev'rything 

That might recall the glories of old Rome. 

Manners and customs, dresses, ev'rything 

Republican, was now the rage in France ; 

And Citizen became throughout the land 

The only title known. It was not long , 

Before the last act of the tragedy 

Fill'd Europe with dismay ; for they arraign'd 

Unhappy Louis for his so-called crimes 

Against the nation. Then, of course, there came 

A mockery they call'd a trial ; then 

The guillotine perform'd its fearful work. 

And Louis Seize was sent to his account. 

Gentle and harmless tow'rds his fellow-men, 

He dearly loved the France that murdered him ; 

And died at last a victim to the crimes 

Of others, and to past misgovernment. 

Before that fearful, fatal year had closed, 

His queen, unhappy Marie- Antoinette, 

Whose gentle courage had so long assuag'd 

His bitter trials, and whose character 

(Though indiscretion was at times her fault 

In days full trying to a Queen of France) 

Deserves our warmest admiration, fell 

Like him a victim to thfe nation's rage. 

And in the Temple's cheerless solitude 



A.D. 



June 9, 1795. 



1793 & 1794. 



1794. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEARS. 



187 



The Dauphin too pass'd from this stormj world. 
But Europe, rous'd to vengeance by the death 
Of Louis, now arose in arms. Yet France 
Quail' d not before the coming storm ; at once 
All her tremendous energy shone forth 
In preparations for the deadly fight. 
Ten kingdoms she defied to open war, 
And prov'd full soon the prowess of her arms. 



YI. THE EEiaN OF TEEEOE. 



At home, alas ! the horrors still went on 

Increasing daily. The Committee form'd 

For " Public Safety" soon at Paris rose, 

With hundreds more throughout the land ; their 

aim 
Was to root out, beneath the guillotine. 
And quench in blood, all that oppos'd their sway. 
This was the Reign of Terror. It is said 
That nineteen thousand persons met their fate 
In Paris by the guillotine alone. 
The land was now one hideous theatre 
Of fearful massacres ; nor high nor low 
Afc last were safe ; all that was holy too 
Was spurn'd and scouted by the reckless men 
Who sway'd with impious and polluted hands 
The destinies of France. Yet, one by one. 
They fell before each others' vengeful hate, 
Till, finally, in ninety-four, we find 
Robespierre supreme. Terror was at its height, 
And no one now felt certain that his turn 



A.D. 



188 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTOET. 



July 28, 1794, 



Oct. 27, 1795, 



Oct. 4, 1795. 



To perish migM not be the very next. 

At length the cup o'erflow'd. In self-defence 

Some of the boldest rose, and overthrew 

The hateful wretch, who miserably died, , 

Amidst the execrations of the world, 

By that dread guillotine beneath whose edge 

So many victims he had doom'd to die ; 

And France, now wearied out with blood, return'd 

To ways less savage, wild, and terrible. 



VI. THE DIEECTOET. 



The form of government that next ensued. 

In ninety-five, was the Directory 

Of Five, assisted by two Councils ; one, 

The Council of the Ancients nam'd ; and one. 

The Council of Five Hundred. Milder men 

Now held the reins. Hope seem'd to dawn again 

Of peace and happiness in store for France. 

Tet not at once the high and boist'rous waves 

Calmly subside, v\rhen such a hurricane 

Has lash'd them to a height. Unpopular 

The old Convention had at length become : 

Paris had been the scene of fresh revolt : 

October, ninety-five, the Sections rose. 

Full thirty thousand men, National Guards 

And Citizens of Paris (not the low 

And senseless mob), combin'd to overawe 

The government. On that day's issue hung 

Once more the fate of France ; and, happily, 

The cause of order triumph' d. There was one 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEARS. 



189 



5. Aug. 15, ") 
1769. ( 

d. May 5, t 
1821. J 



1796. 
1796. 
1787. 



1797. 



Whose rising talent was already mark'd 

By some of those who govern'd then the State. 

The troops on which the government relied 

Were few indeed ; but one was in command, 

Whose courage, genius, and decision, turn'd 

The scale that day. ISTapoleon Bonaparte 

So well employ'd his little force, and made 

Such dispositions, such precautions took, 

That, after struggles terrible but short. 

The masses of insurgents were dispers'd 

And order was restored. From this time forth 

The bayonet in France became supreme. 

They well might welcome even that as mild 

And merciful — a change with blessings fraught- 

Who for so many years had liv'd beneath 

The shadow of the fearful guillotine. 

And now came foreign wars. In ninety-six 

The French, commanded by young Bonaparte, 

Skilfully turn'd the Alps. The famous names 

Of Montenotte, and Millesimo, 

Of Lodi, and Areola, others too, 

And Rivoli, in sev'nteen ninety-seven, 

Told how a mighty genius had appear'd, 

And revolutioniz'd the art of war. 

Yenice was conquer'd too ; and Austria, 

With Italy and Switzerland, compell'd 

To make a treaty, sign'd in ninety-sev'n 

At Campo Formio. The Directory 

ISTow sought to rid itself of one who might 

]<ire long o'erthrow it ; and the ardent soul 

Of Bonaparte was glowing with the thought 

Of founding some great empire in the East. 



A.D. 



1798. 



1801, 1798. 



1799. 



1799. 



Dec. 24, 1799 



1800. 
June 14, 1800. 



190 



EPITOME OP UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 



He soon embark' d for Egypt, but be found 
Here first in truth a lion in bis patb. 
The famous Battle of tbe Pyramids 
Migbt sweep away a bost of Moslem borse, 
But soon Aboukir's sand bills, and tbe Nile, 
Destroy'd bis bopes of Eastern sov'reignty ; 
And Acre, beld by bold Sir Sidney Smitb, 
Made tbe great Frencbman " miss bis destiny." 
To France be now return'd, and tbere be found 
Tbe op'ning be bad sougbt. In ninety-nine 
Tbe old Directory was overturn'd ; 
And Bonaparte, witb two associates, 
Sieyes and Ducos, subordinate to bim. 
Set up tbe Consulate, — dissolving first. 
As Cromwell did tbe Englisb Parliament, 
Tbe Council of Five Hundred witb bis troops ; 
And, ere tbe year was closed, be stood supreme. 
First Consul, at tbe belm of migbty France. 
"Wisely and well be labour'd to restore 
Full many tbings most needful for tbe State ; 
And France may well be grateful to tbe man 
Wbo, wbilst be earn'd a migbty name abroad, 
Effected marvellous reforms at bome. 



VIII. THE CONSIJLATE. 



In eigbteen bundred, war again broke out 

Witb Germany and Italy ; tbis year 

He pass'd tbe Great St. Bernard, and in June 

Ma,rengo saw a famous victory. 

In eigbteen two, we find Napoleon made 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND TEAES. 



191 



Aug. 2, 1802. 



1803 to 1805. 



May 18, 1804, 



Consul for life ; and all his energies 

And matchless genius were devoted now 

To build again tlie fabric of tbe State, 

Wbicli in tbe Revolution had been thrown 

So rudely down. Religious worship, too, 

Resum'd its place ; and Bonaparte commenc'd 

The famous Code of laws that bears his name, — 

A work which well deserves the gratitude 

Of France and Europe. But the reign of peace 

Could not endure for long. The headlong tide 

On which Napoleon had embarked was one 

That knew no limit, and allowed no rest : 

For France had drawn the sword; and other 

Pow'rs, 
When France was ready to agree to peace, 
Found their advantage in protracted war. 
England was thus amongst her steadfast foes ; 
And, burning with the proud, ambitious thought 
Of conquering that haughty little isle, 
Napoleon concentrated near Boulogne, 
In eighteen hundred three, and four, and five, 
A splendid armament, with which he hoped 
To carry out his aim. Trafalgar's fight 
In eighteen five completely crush' d the hope ; 
England was safe. 



IX. THE EMPIEE. 



In eighteen hundred four the mighty chief 
Was crown'd as Emperor ; but found himself 
(Even before Trafalgar's fatal day) 
Forc'd to relinquish, for a time at least. 



A.D. 



1805. 
Dec. 2, 1805. 



Oct. 14 1806 



1807. 
1807. 



July 7, 1807. 



192 



EPITOxME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



1813. 



His threatened landing upon Britain's shore, 

And turn his arms against the Continent 

Now leagued to thwart his high, ambitious views. 

In eighteen hundred five he captur'd Ulm, 

And gain'd the victory of Austerlitz, 

Known as the Battle of the Emperors. 

In eighteen six the Prussian monarchy 

Succumb'd before his terrible attack; 

And Jena added yet another name 

To the long list of victories that made 

All Europe tremble at the name of France. 

In eighteen hundred seven he fought the fight 

Of Eylau, less decisive than the rest, 

And Friedland, where the sturdy Muscovite, 

Though beaten, gave an earnest of the check 

That Bonaparte was doom'd to meet at last 

On Russia's fatal plains. But yet the Czar, 

All captivated by Napoleon's fame, 

Now made with him the celebrated Peace 

Of Tilsit ; and agreed upon the terms 

On which they should promote each other's aims 

In subjugating Europe. Bonaparte, 

Meanwhile,' had set his brothers on the thrones 

His sword had conquer' d, or diplomacy 

Had made his own. Louis in Holland reign'd. 

And Jerome in Westphalia ; — Joseph now, 

After the fall of Portugal, became, 

By the surrender of the Spanish crown, 

King of the whole Peninsula. But this 

Produced another war, which still went on 

For seven long years, till Wellington at last 

Drove out the French, from Spain. In eighteen nine 



A.D. 



THE SIXTH THOUSAND YEARS. 



193 



July 6, 1809. 

1809. 

1810. 



1812. 



Sept, 7, 1812. 



May 1813. 
Oct. 1813. 



Ma/rch 1814. 
A'pril 11,1814. 



N'apoleon's old opponent, Archduke Charles, 
Held bravely out on many well fonght fields, 
But met at Wagram yet one more defeat. 
This year saw Josephine's divorce ; the next 
Marie-Louise, the Austrian, became 
Empress of France ; this caus'd a jealousy 
Between I^Tapoleon and the Russian Czar. 
In eighteen twelve Kapoleon undertook 
The fatal Russian expedition. Here 
Disaster and defeat were all he gain'd, 
Though Borodiuo could not stop his way. 
And Moscow fell before him ; 'twas in vain. 
The stern, self-sacrificing Russians swept 
The land before him ; and with eager hands 
Gave to the flames their ancient capital. 
From Moscow's burning streets the conqueror 
Retreated, foil'd and baffled. That retreat 
Became a rout, and horrors ne'er before 
Endur'd by such an army, clos'd the scene. 
The end was now at hand. All Europe soon 
Combin'd against this proud, insatiable man, 
This great disturber of the public peace. 
In vain his arms invaded Germany ; 
Liitzen and Bautzen — empty victories — 
Were foUow'd by a terrible defeat 
At Leipsic. All in vain he stood at bay, 
Now on the very soil of France ; in vain 
His energy and heroism eclips'd 
The great achievements of his early days. 
Paris was taken, and the Emperor 
Compell'd to abdicate the throne of France. 
(This was in eighteen fourteen.) He was sent 



A.D. 



194 



EPITOME OP UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 



1815. 



March 1,1815. 



June 16, 1815 



June 18, 1815. 



To Elba, still an Emperor in name, 

And sov'reign of that little isle, yet bound 

To stay there ; and the Bourbons were restored. 



X. THE HUNDEED DATS. 



Lo ! the next year lie re-appear' d in France, 
And marcli'd to Paris, while the nation rose 
To welcome back the idol of its heart. 
The Hundred Days beheld him once again 
Emp'ror of France ; his wondrous energy 
Soon organiz'd an army ; but the Pow'rs 
Of Europe were determin'd not to yield, 
Nor suffer one who prov'd himself so oft 
The scourge of nations, to destroy their peace. 
Their forces gather'd round him all apace : 
A bold attack he made with matchless skill, 
To crush his foes before they could unite, 
And conquer in detail his enemies ; 
And Ligny gave some promise of success. 
But from the English and the Prussian hosts, 
Combined upon the field of Waterloo, 
He met his greatest and his last defeat ; 
And eighteen hundred and fifteen beheld 
The brother of unhappy Louis Seize 
Reseated firmly on the throne of France. 



PART THE SIXTH. 



ENGLISH HISIOfiY. 



B.C. 



ENGLISH HISTORY. 



197 



ENGLISH HISTORY. 



89. THE BRITONS. 

Some nineteen hundred years ago, — 
That is, about the year of grace, — 

This pleasant England, you must know, 
Was but a wild and rugged space. 

The ancient Britons lived in huts, 

Or roamed about from place to place ; 

They fed on herbs, and roots, and nuts, 
And were a rude and savage race. 

Yet free from foreign foes, until the hour 
When, to assist the Gauls, Caswallon went, 

And made a foe of that all-conqu'ring pow'r 
Before whose eagles ev'ry nation bent. 



55. 



54 



90. THE ROMANS. 

Remember B.C. fifty-five. 
When Britons first with Romans strive. 
The first invasion proves in vain. 
But next year Caesar comes again. 



A.D. 



198 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



Still the attempt Oaswallon foils, 
And Caesar once again recoils ; 
Nor Britain's liberty subverts, 
Thougli reacbing Yernlam in Herts. 
Then, for about a hundred years, 
Britain is free from Roman spears, 
43. Till Claudius, a.d. forty-three. 

Invades her more successfully ; 
Caractacus is sent to Rome, 
But Claudius spares, and sends him home. 

N'ow Britain to the haughty Roman bends. 
But learns the civilized and useful arts ; 
409 A.D. four hundred nine this thraldom ends ; 

To combat with the Goth, Rome's sword departs. 

Against the Britons, Picts and Scots combine ; 
And Yortigern, too weak to stand alone, 
443, Calls upon Hengist in four forty-nine ; 

The Saxons come, and make the land their own. 



449. 



597. 



91. THE SAXOE" HEPTARCHY. 

Hengist, four forty-nine — eight forty-nine the date 
That sees the birth of Alfred, call'd the Great ; 
Between these dates four centuries pass by 
In which is form'd the Saxon Heptarchy : 
Jutes, Angles, Saxons, hold the land in thrall, 
With one Bretwalda ruling over all. 
The third Bretwalda, Ethelbert, a.d. five ninety- 
seven. 



A.D. 



ENGLISH HISTOET. 



199 



827. 



827, 836. 



d. 857. 

d. 860 & 866. 
866. 



Was first of England's kings who trod the Chris- 
tian's path to heav'n. 

Bertha his wife, a French princess, first pointed 
out the way ; 

Augustine with his forty monks soon came to 
preach and pray. 

Then follow Saxon monarchs for two hundred 
years and more. 

Till, in the year eight twenty-sev'n, the crown 
Ejng Egbert wore — • 

The first of England's sovereigns who ruled from 
shore to shore. 



92. SAxoE" Kiisras. 

Egbert, first king of all the land ;— Ethelwolf fol- 
lows next : 
And in their reigns, by sea-king Danes the land is 

sorely vex'd. 
The sea-king Ragnor-Lodbrog in the N'orth is 

wreck'd and slain ; 
His sons retreat to arm a fleet, and soon they 

come again. 
JSTow Ethelwolf four sons had he, each with a 

Saxon name. 
Three Ethels, and an Alfred too — a king well 

known to fame. 
First Ethelbald, then Ethelbert, to join his sire 

had gone ; 
And then the third son, Ethelred, is seated on the 

throne. 



A.D. 



200 



EPITOME OP UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



871. 



d.900 
(or 901). 



d. 925. 
d. 940 
d. 946 



;] 



d. 955. 



d. 959. ■) 
d. 975. j 



He by the Danes at Ashdown in eight sev'nty-one 

was slain; 
And, at the age of twenty-one, Alfred began to 

reign. 
Many an English child, I ween, a wondrous tale 

can tell, 
Of strange, romantic things that in our Alfred's 

reign befel : 
What ill success attended him, when first he made 

a stand ; 
How, as a homeless fugitive, he wander'd through 

the land ; 
How stni he persevered till he had humbled 

Danish pride ; 
Then liv'd to bless his subjects; and A.D. nine 

hundred died. 
How thoroughly the Danes he foil'd, from this 

one fact appears ; 
They ventur'd not to come again for full a hun- 
dred years. 
Edward the Elder, Ethelstane, and Edmund first 

succeed ; 
King Edmund's sons, too young to reign, are set 

aside indeed ; 
And yet their uncle Edred no usurper may be 

call'd. 
Since by a Saxon custom on the throne he was 

in stair d ; 
And afterwards, when Edred died, his nephews, 

as we learn, 
Edwin the Fair, and Edgar, wield the sceptre in 

their turn. 



A.D. 



d. 978. 



d. 1016. 



1003 to 1013. 



1014. 



ENGLISH HISTORY. 



201 



But Edwin married Elgiva; and Dunstan, wlio 

rebell'd, 
Placed Edgar on tlie throne from wliicli his brother 

was expell'd. 
Corfe Castle saw Ejng Edgar's son, Edward the 

Martyr, kill'd 
E'en while he qnaff'd the stirrup-cup, by false 

Elfrida fiU'd : 
Thus for Unready Ethelrea, her son, the crown she 

gains ; 
His indolence and cowardice fall soon bring back 

the Danes. 



93. SAXONS, DANES, NORMANS. 

Peace for a while with gold he buys ; but when 

from danger freed. 
The Danish guards he massacres ; — soon, to avenge 

the deed. 
The Danish monarch Sweyn, who mourns a sister 

slaughter'd too. 
Comes with a mighty armament ; ten years of war 

ensue, 
Till Sweyn has conquer'd all the land, and basely 

Ethelred 
Deserts his father's throne, and into Normandy 

has fled. 
But ere the croMm is on Sweyn's head, death over- 
takes the Dane, 
And Ethelred fron^ Normandy then hastens back 

flcrq.in I 



A.D. 



202 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORT. 



1017. 



1036, 

1040, 
1042, 



:1 



Then comes Canute, the son of Sweyn, and 
ravages the land, 

But now by Edmund Ironside the Saxons bravely 
stand ; 
1016. I'or, in one thousand and sixteen, weak Ethelred 

had died, 

Bequeathing only war and woe to his son Iron- 
side. 

Then Edmund and Canute agree to share the 
English throne. 

But Edmund soon is murder' d, and Canute then 
reigns alone. 

Remember now three Danish kings, they were the 
only ones ; 

Canute ; then Harold Harefoot, and then Hardi- 
canute, his sons. 

Then Edward, son of Emma and of Ethelred, re- 
nown' d 

As Edward the Confessor, next at Winchester was 
crown' d. 

He favour'd much the I^ormans, in whose land he 
had been bred ; 

Earl Harold, son of Godwin, of the Saxons was 
the head. 

In favour of Duke William, Edward sought to set 
aside 

The true heir, Edgar Atheling, grandson of Iron- 
side. 
1066. When Edward died, ten sixty-six, Harold denied 
the right 
Of William to the .English throne: they meet at 
Hastings' fight. 



A.D. 



ENGLISH HISTORY. 



20B 



In tliat same figM, ten sixty-six, was Saxon Harold 

slain, 
And William, call'd the Conqueror, began his iron 

reign. 



I. 102T 

ace. 1066. 

d. 1087 



^•1 



94. THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS. 

14th Oct. 1066. 

Versified from Eohert Trace's " JRoman de Bou.'" 

" Oat to the fight, brave Saxons ! 

The Norman is at hand ; 
But he must pass o'er Harold's corpse, 
Ere he shall win the land." 

" Nay, Harold," quoth Duke WiUiam, 
" The crown thou mayst not wear ; 

Bemember, thou on holy bones 
Fealty to me didst swear." 

" 'Twas in thy Norman castle 

I plighted thee my troth ; 
Our Lady doth not bid me keep 

A forced, unwilling oath." 



" To arms ! to arms, brave Normans ! 

With bow, and lance, and shield ; 
Bight soon the crown this Saxon earl 

To our good sword shall yield." 



A.D. 



204 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Loud througli the Norman havens 
The shipwrights' hammers ring ; 

A goodly fleet across the strait 
Duke William's might shall bring. 

And goodly ships hath Harold 
To watch the southern shore ; 

But from the North come flying fast 
Tidings full sad and sore. 

For Norway's king, Hardrada, 
Hath landed with his might. 

Now Harold, thou must choose anon 
Which foe thou first wilt fight. 

Then swift and straight as arrow 

From sturdy Kentish bow. 
King Harold hies him to the North, 

To fight his Northern foe. 

At Stamford bridge twain Harolds 
Spare neither stroke nor thrust ; 

The Saxon standard waves aloft, 
And Norway bites the dust. 

Now hie thee South, brave Harold ; 

Let not one hour be lost ; 
While thou dost fight, the Norman fleet 

The narrow strait hath cross'd : 

Yet, be not rash, but wary ; 

Seek not the Southern shore ; 
Draw ofi" thy force, and waste the land, 

'TwiU waste the Norman more. 



A.D. ENGLISH HISTORY. 205 

" ]N"aj, by my faith ! I will not 
From this proud I^Torman flee, 

Nor leave my good stout Sussex men 
To bear the brunt for me." 

" Yet let me," quoth bold Leofwine, 

" Do battle in thy stead. 
Perchance the sin of perjury 

Might rest upon thy head." 

" No, heaven forefend," quoth Harold ; 

" Let good or evil come, 
None other shall for England fight. 

Whilst Harold bides at home." 

Through London speeds King Harold, 

And to his standard crowd 
Stout Kentish Saxons young and old. 

To fight the Norman proud. 

On, on he speeds towards Hastings, 

By marches long and fleet ; 
'Twill need the Normans' stoutest heart 

That stout array to meet. 

" Ho ! set me up my standard 
Where this green hill ye see ; 

Here, midway on the slope, I trow, 
The hottest fight shall be. 

" And ye good men of London, 
Guard ye my standard round ; 

For 'tis your right about the king 
To keep the battle ground. 



A.D. 



206 



EPITOME OP UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



" And ye, good Kentish liegemen, 

Go down into the front ; 
Por 'tis your right to strike the first, 

And bear the battle's brunt." 

And lo ! a goodly rampart 

"With shield and ashen stake, 
The Saxons build along the front. 

The first assault to break. 

And on the wooded uplands, 

Across the narrow vale, 
Long lines of ISTorman lances shine, 

And glitt'ring coats of mail. 

That night in song and feasting 

The valiant Saxons spend ; 
While low before a shriving priest 

The pious I^ormans bend. 

Bright rose the sun next morning 

On those two armies bold ; 
How many thousands shall not live 

Its setting to behold ! 

Then Hugues Maigrot Duke William 

With embassage doth send ; 
" Now choose ye one of these three things, 

So shall our quarrel end. 

^' Or yield me up the sceptre. 

Or let the Pope decide, 
Or by our two good swords alone. 

Be this our quarrel tried." 



A.D. 


ENGLISH HISTORY. 207 




" I will not yield," quoth Harold; 

" 1^0 Pope shall judge for me ; 
Nor will I stake on my sole arm 

Fair England's liberty." 




Yet still another message 
Duke William then did try ; 

And thus Maigrot to Harold spake, 
The earls all standing by. 




" If thou the crown wilt render 
Into Duke William's hand, 

All to the north of Humber mouth 
Thou yet mayst rule the land. 




" If not, nor here nor after, 
Mayst thou for mercy look ; 

For lo ! the Pope he curseth thee 
By candle, bell, and book." 




Sore troubled were the Saxons, 

As men bereft of hope ; 
They were in truth in sorry strait, 

To choose 'twixt king and Pope. 




ISTot long in sooth they doabted ; 

Out flash'd their goodly glaves : 
" What helpeth it to please the Pope, 

If we be Norman slaves ? 




" Already this proud Frenchman 
Hath parcell'd out our lands ; 

Better to die than see our homes 
In these fierce Normans' hands.'* 



A.D. 208 EPITOME OF UNIYEESAL HISTORY. 

N"ow wlieii Maigrot tMs message 
Back to the Duke did take, 

Right valorous and goodly words 
He to his barons spake. 

" Ho ! quit ye well and knightly, 
This Saxon will not yield ; 

And strike, as ye have struck full oft 
On many a well-fought field. 

" Needs must ye win this battle, 
For no retreat ye have ; 

And if in flight ye safety seek. 
The sea shall be your grave." 

Then in three parts Duke William* 

His army did divide. 
One in the centre shall assault, 

And one on either side. ^^': 

Sir Rogier de Mongomeri 

The one flank doth command ; 

Sir Alain, and Sir Ameri 
Both on the other hand. 

The centre of his army 

William himself doth lead ; 

A goodlier knight than he, I trow. 
Never bestrode a steed. 

Then- Taillefer, right gaily. 
Before the duke did ride ; 

" A boon, lord duke, I crave of thee, 
And may not be denied : 



A.D. 



ENGLISH HISTORY. 



209 



" For long and faithful service, 

In guerdon and in fee, 
Let me this day but strike the first, 

Full quittance it shall be." 

" 'Tis granted," cried Duke William; 

Hotly he spurr'd away ; 
And his good lance smote through and through 

The first that died that day. 

" What do ye, sirs ? Strike boldly ; 

Dex Aie !" he gaily cries ; 
But scores of Saxons close him round, 

And fighting thus he dies. 

Now onward press the Normans ; 

" Dex Aie ! Dex Aie !" they shout : 
Loud rings above the clash of arms 

The Saxon cry " Out ! Out !" 

'T would fill full many a ballad 

The valiant deeds to tell. 
That on fair Senlac's sunny slopes 

That fatal day befel. 

Here Norman barons vaunting 

O'er slaughtered Saxons ride : 
There some stout, stalwart Saxon earl 

Rolls back the battle's tide. 



Here the huge Saxon bill-hooks 
Cleave Normans by the score : 

There the fierce Norman's flashing swords 
Drink deep of Saxon gore. 

p 



A.D. 



210 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Their bows right well and strongly 

The Norman archers draw ; 
But Saxon shields are stout and strong, 

The arrows find no flaw. 

But see ! the feath'ry shower 
Shoots upwards to the skies ; 

The falling shafts too surely bring 
Woe to the Saxons' eyes. 

Six hours the fight has lasted ; 

The day is fleeting by ; 
Woe's me ! a random shaft hath struck 

Brave Harold in the eye. 

He heedeth not the blinding, 

He heedeth not the pain ; 
Still sweeps his arm, and fences round 

His standard with the slain. 

On come the Normans charging 

More fiercely than before ; 
Alas ! the fallen standard tells 

That Harold is no more. 



Fallen are Gurth and Leofwine, 
And all their host o'erthrown, 

And where the golden standard stood. 
The conqu'ror plants his own. 

Barons and knights, uncovered, 
Stand round him in a ring, 

With dripping swords and lances red. 
And hail him England's king. 



A.D. 



ENGLISH HISTORY. 



211 



The sun has set in crimson, 
As though with carnage red ; 

The moon is wanly looking down 
On thirty thousand dead. 

What seek those holy fathers 
Amongst the heaps of slain ? 

They search for noble Harold's corpse ; 
Alas ! they search in vain. 

Hush ! 'Tis the swan-neck'd Edith, 
That bends her o'er the ground : 

Too soon the piercing eye of love 
Her lover's form hath found. 

Before the king, entreating, 

A weeping mother stands, 
And prays that Harold's corpse may be 

Delivered to her hands. 

" No, by my faith," quoth WiUiam, 

" This Saxon earl so brave, 
^5^ ay, an he list, still guard the shore, 

The sands shall be his grave." 

That tomb had well befitted 

The brave and gallant end 
Of him who gave his life's best blood 

His country to defend. 

Yet when the mood was over, 

The king did soon relent : 
To Waltham Abbey Harold's corpse 

For burial was sent. 



A.D. 



212 



EPITOME OF TJNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



I. 1060, 
ace. 1087, 

d. 1100. J 

h. 1068, 
ace. 1100 

d. 1135 



iS 



i. 1104, 
ci. 1154. 



1135. 



So N'orman William conquer' d, 
So Saxon Harold fell, 

And so this faithful chronicle 
Hath nothing more to tell. 



95. STEPHEN AND MAUDE. 

The Conqueror was followed by his son 
Rufus, who had his father's faults, indeed, 

But of his nobler feelings scarcely one. 
We then behold Henry the Eirst succeed : 

Matilda (Edith Maude), King Henry's bride, 
Was the great granddaughter of Ironside. 

Then followed Stephen, in whose troubled reign 
England was sorely vex'd with war again. 

Stephen of Blois, remember well, by violence and 
fraud, 

Deprived of her inheritance his cousin, Empress 
Maude, 

Henry the Eirst, Maude's father, and the Con- 
qu'ror's son, was brother 

Of Adela, the Conqu'ror's daughter; she was Ste- 
phen's mother. 

When Henry died, his daughter Maude, by lineal 
descent 

Was rightful queen ; but Stephen said he knew 
that Henry meant 



A.D. 



1141. 



1153. 



h. 1132, 

ace. 1154, 

d. 1189. 



1485. 



I. 1157, 

ace. 1189 

t^. 1199 



i 



ENGLISH mSTOEr. 



213 



To disinlierifc Maude, and so lie seized upon the 

crown ; 
And in the war that follow'd, Maude was chas'd 

from town to town : 
Now hidden in a hearse that moved with solemn 

step and slow, 
ISow stealing forth at midnight, clad in white, 

across the snow. 
And Stephen too had his escapes, both marvellous 

and strange ; 
Once for the Duke of Glos'ter he was given in 

exchange ; 
And left alone at Lincoln's fight, of rage and 



valour full. 
He brandish' d his broad battle-axe, and bellow' d 

like a bull. 
At last they made a compromise, — that Stephen 

should retain 
The crown until his death, and after him Maude's 

son should reign. 
Henry the Second, son of Maude, thus after Ste- 
phen came : 
From Geoffrey, called Plantagenet, his sire, he took 

his name ; 
And many a great and noble king that famous 

house did yield. 
Before the last, Third Richard, died on Bosworth's 

crimson field. 



At Henry's death, the Lion-heart succeeds ; 
His warriors to the Holy Land he leads. 



A.D. 



214 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



J. 1166,) 

aec. 1199, V 

£^. 1216.) 



I. 1207, 

aoc. 1216, 

d. 1272. 



1258. 



1264. 



N'eglecting England whilst; his fame he won. 
Then after Richard came the tyrant John, 
Who set his elder brother's child aside, 
Prince Arthur, who 'tis thought unfairly died. 



96. HENRY THE THIRD. 

One Simon de Montfort, perhaps you have heard, 
Gave no little trouble to Henry the Third. 
King Henry had foreign relations by dozens, 
And took in magnificent pageants such pleasure, he 
Expended on shows, and those same foreign cousins. 
Whatever he managed to get from the Treasury. 
Though not a bad man, yet, as might be expected. 
The good of his subjects he sadly neglected ; 
And soon the great famous Mad Parliament met, 
At Oxford, a new Magna Charta to get. 
Remember this Oxford mad parliament's date ; 
The year was twelve hundred and fifty and eight. 
But as monarch and parliament could not agree. 
To Louis the l^inth they referr'd all the questions ; 
He favoured the king, so the Barons, you see, 
Refus'd to abide by the French king's suggestions. 
Both parties were greatly to blame, there's no 

doubt, 
But Simon in open rebellion broke out. 

In twelve sixty-four a great battle took place 
At Lewes, where Henry was prisoner made ; 
Prince Edward, who fled while his guards ran a race. 
With Mortimer soon a new army array' d j 



A.D. 


ENGLISH HISTORY. 215 


1265. 


The battle of Evesliam took place tlie next year, 




And ended the strife ; 




The Barons this time lost the battle, 'tis clear, 




And De Montfort his life. 




'Tis pleasant to add that the king became wiser, 




And, finding in Edward a good sonnd adviser, 




Made up for the past, doing all he could do. 


1272. 


He died in twelve hundred and seventy-two. 


I. 1239, 




aec. 1272, 


97. EDWARD THE FIRST. 


d. 1307. 




1282. 


Edward the First, Llewellyn slain. 




Becomes first English king of Wales ; 




And seeking Scotland next to gain. 




At first through Scottish feuds prevails. 


1292. 


For though to Baliol Edward gives the throne. 




He for the task soon proves too weak and old ; 


1296 


And Edward as their king the Scots must own. 




Till his hard rule arouses Wallace bold. 




Heroic Wallace ! long and well he fought. 




Defying even warlike Edward's power ; , 


1298. 


Though Falkirk's fight full soon disaster brought. 


1305. 


And fix'd his head at last on London Tower. 




Yet think not such heroic deeds were vain, 




Or that a traitor's death they justly earn ; 




In every Scottish arm he fought again. 


1314. 


W hen Bruce set Scotland free at Bannockburn, 



A.D. 



216 



EPITOME OF UNIYEESAL HISTORY. 



h. 1284, 

ace. 1307, 

d. 1327. 



I. 13P0. 
d. 1376. 



1346. 



1346. 



And Second Edward, the Crusader's son, 
Ignobly lost the prize his sire had won. 

The battle of Falkirk was twelve ninety-eight : 
Thirteen hundred and fourteen was Bannock- 
burn's date. 



98. THE BLACK PRmCE. 

An Alcibiades, from vices free, 

An Alexander, yet without his faults ; 

Young, skilful, chivalrous, say who is he 
Who lightly on his sable charger vaults ? 

Mark well his crest, three snowy ostrich plumes, 
Ke'er from the front of battle seen to swerve ; 

" Ich dien :" I serve, the motto he assumes; 
They best command who best know how to serve. 

The Black Prince, Edward, bravest Prince of 
Wales, 

Ere he had counted sixteen years of age. 
To France with Edward, his brave father, sails. 

In scenes of deadly warfare to engage. 

In thirteen forty-six, on Cressy's plain. 
To send him aid his noble sire demurs : 

" An he be not outnumber'd, let him gain 
This battle all alone, and win his spurs." 

In Cressy's battle first was heard the sound 
Made by the fatal cannon's deaf 'ning roar ; 

Gunpowder's deadly uses had been found 
By Bacon in the century before. 



A.D. 



ENGLISH HISTOET. 



217 



inst. 1344. One of the Garter's first-created knights, 

Just ten years after Cressy's famous fray, 
1356. The prince at Poictiers no less bravely fights, 

And pris'ner bears King John of France away. 

Spain, too, the triumph of his arms beheld, 

Where still against him France he found array' d 

Pedro the Cruel, from his throne expelL'd, 
As rightful king of Spain obtain' d his aid. 

Nobly, but all in vain, Du Guesclin leads 
1367. At fam'd Najara France's chivalry ; 

Again the English Prince of Wales succeeds, 
And France must yield to him the victory. 

Alas for England ! Fell disease must blight 
One whom defeat had never yet laid low ; 
1376. In thirteen seventy-six this noble knight 

Died without stain or blemish, at Bordeaux. 



h. 1312,) 

ace. 1327, [ 

d. 1377. 3 



99. THE WARS OF THE ROSES. 

King Edward the Third eight sons had he, 

Though none of them wore the English crown ; 

Yet monarchs of England sprang from three, 
And thus we in order set them down. 

First, Edward the Black Prince, glorious name. 
Then Lionel, John, and Edmund next ; 

By Thomas, and three unknown to fame. 
Our memories need not be perplex'd. 



A.D. 



218 



EPITOME OF TJNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



b. 1330. 

d. 1376. 

I. 1366, 
ace. 1377, 

d. 1399. 

b. 1367, 
aec. 1399, 

d. 1413. 



6. 1441,-^ 
ace. 1461, • 

c?. 1483. 

b. 1450, f 
ace. 1483 ! 

c?. 1485.J 



May 4, 1471. 



1485. 



JSTow Edward, a prince of great renown, 
Just one year before his father died ; 

But Richard, his son, obtained the crown, 
Though Henry the Fourth set him aside. 

This Henry was son of John (of Grhent), 
But Lionel was John's elder brother ; 

And Mortimer's house could claim descent 
From Lionel's daughter, Roger's mother. 

Tho' Edmund of York the crown ne'er gain'd, 
His grandson, Richard, perhaps you've heard, 

Was father of two bad kings who reign' d, 
Edward the Fourth and Richard the Third. 

The Wars of the Roses took their rise, 

When fiercely the House of York was bent 

On wresting from Henry's race the prize 
Usurped by that son of John of Ghent. 

Alas ! a red page in hist'ry shows 

How Lancaster's house in battle bore, 

As chosen device, a blood-red rose. 

While York as a badge a white one wore. 

To York the best right we must assign. 

Though sprung from the fourth son (John was 
third) : 

A marriage with one of Mortimer's line 
Duke Lionel's rights on York conferr'd. 

But Tewkesbury saw the contest close : 
There, after the fight, was basely slain 

The gallant young prince amidst his foes, 
Aveng'd in the end on Bosworth plain. 



A.D. 



ENGLISH HISTORY. 



219 



h. 1455 

ace. 1485, 

d. 1509 



i 



I486. 

*h. 1491, 

ace. 1509, 

d. 1547. 



b. 1324, 
d, 1384. 



1377. 



For Richard the Third, so stern and grim, 

There lost both his life and England's throne ; 

And Henry the Seventh follow'd him, 
Whose title was his good sword alone. 

And now at an end was war's dread work ; 

Soon after we find King Henry marry 
The daughter of Edward the Eourth of York, 

Elizabeth, mother of bluff King Harry.* 

Whenever we read of wars long past, 

That fiU'd all the land with blood and crime, 

Oh, let lis give thanks to Him who cast 
Our lot in a happy, peaceful time. 



100. THE REFORMATION". 

John Wicliffe, of the Reformation 
Was justly call'd the Morning Star ; 

Such names as his adorn a nation 

More than great names renown' d in war. 

Chiefly in Second Richard's reign 
(Begun in thirteen seventy-seven), 

He sought to make the Bible plain, 
And clear the tangled road to heaven. 

Two popes contending for the papal chair 

Made men like Wicliffe and the Lollards look 

Into the truth ; and spite of Rome, they dare 
Examine for themselves Grod's holy book. 



A.D. 



220 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 



1415. 



I. 1489. 

5.1495,5.1500. 

5.1470,5.1505. 

5. 1483. 

5.1484,5.1497. 

5. 1509. 
c?.1513.c^.l521. 
Emp. 1519. 
d, 1558. 



5. 1491. 
1533. 

5. 1537 
ace. 1547 

f?. 1553 

5. 1516 
ace. 1553, 

(^. 1558 

d, 1555. 



But yet, though stout of heart and pure of mind, 
They were too few to stem Rome's mighty 
stream ; 

A century elapses, and we find 

The Church of Rome in England yet supreme. 

But Wicliffe's goodly seed had taken root, 
A glorious harvest in good time is seen ; 

Abroad John Huss first show'd the holy fruit, 
A martyr fourteen hundred and fifteen. 

Vain were the thund'ring bulls of Papal Rome, 

The goodly tree resists her fiercest shocks, 

Whilst Cranmer carries on the work at home 

I With Hooper, Ridley, Latimer, and Knox. 

Abroad bold Luther and his glorious train, 
\ Zwingle, Melancthon, Calvin, take the lead ; 
' Leo the Tenth finds all resistance vain. 

And mighty Charles the Fifth cannot succeed. 

Yet strangely God's good purpose brings to life 
Events for which men scarcely dare to hope ; 

Harry the Eighth, to put away a wife. 

Casts overboard at once both Church and Pope. 

V Edward the Sixth, a noble-minded youth, 
;J From purer motives still upholds the truth. 
CMary attempts the purer faith to shake, 
) But all in vain ; e'en at the fearful stake 
Latimer, Ridley, Hooper, martyrs die. 
Rather than bend to Rome's supremacy. 



A.D. 



ENGLISH HISTOET. 



221 



I. 1533, 

ace 1558, 
d. 1603 
a. 1685. 



33, ) 

58, \ 
03. ) 



I. 1600, 

ace. 1625, 

d. 1649. 



Elizabetli, that wise and manly queen, 
Again restores the Protestants to hope ; 

And not till James the Second's time was seen 
An English monarch bending to the Pope : 

Then to his cost he found it all in vain, 

England refused to bow to Rome again. 

Yet was that purer faith no fabric new ; 

Protestantism did but clear away 
Eank, pois'nous weeds, that o'er the temple grew, 

Restoring it once more to light of day. 

It only taught what the Apostles taught : 

To search the Scriptures Papal Rome had 
clos'd ; 

And hope for life, by One Atonement bought, 
Without a Purgatory interposed. 

Then let us humbly praise and thank the Lord, 
Who, in his mercy, thus once more has given, 

Pure and ungarbled, his most Holy Word, 
To light the Christian on his path to heaven. 



101. CHARLES THE FIRST. 

A very good man, tho' we cannot but own 

Unwise as a king was Charles Stuart the First 

Sixteen twenty-five he ascended the throne, 
And soon over England a hurricane burst. 



A.D. 



222 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



The war against Erance, and the arrogant ways 
Of Buckingliam, roused up the Parliament's ire ; 

The novel attempt standing armies to raise, 

With ship-money taxes, soon fann'd up the fire. 



1642. 



How fierce is the quarrel where neither will yield, 
And love is extinguish'd in hatred and pride ; 

The King and the Parliament both take the field 
The strife by the merciless sword to decide. 



With Rupert, the nephew of Charles, at their head, 
The Royalist cavaliers fight all in vain : 

By Cromwell, and Ireton, and Fairfax, well led, 
The Puritan Roundheads great victories gain. 

1642. Ill sixteen hundred and forty-two, 

The king at Edgehill they overthrew. 

1644* In sixteen hundred and forty-four 

They gain'd the battle of Marston Moor. 

1645. Next year at ITaseby the armies meet, 
And Charles sustains a complete defeat. 

1646. The ill-fated monarch, now sorely beset, 
Applied to his troops before I^ewark for aid : 

From them little help in his need did he get ; 
Their king to his foes they for money betray'd. 



Compell'd now at length to seek safety in flight, 
A secret escape into Prance he design'd ; 

But artfully lured to the fair Isle of Wight, 
At Carisbrook Castle was seiz'd and confin'd. 



A.D. 



1649. 



J.1599,dl658. 



aid. 1659. 



5.1630,c?.1685. 

1665. 
1666. 



ENGLISH HISTOET. 



223 



Alas ! it was now all too late to resign 

His war against France and his sHp-money tax; 

At length, in tlie year sixteen forty and nine, 
He fell by the stern executioner's axe. 



102. THE RSSTOEATIOK 

Now Cromwell Protector of England remain'd 
Until sixteen hundred and fifty and eight ; 

The honour of England abroad he maintain'd ; 
And, though a usurper, did well for the State. 

But Richard, his son, tho' not badly inclined, 
Was wholly unfitted to rule such a nation ; 

So General Monk, sixteen sixty, we find 

Effecting the banish'd young king's Restoration. 

Alas ! Charles the Second, to pleasure a slave, 
Unwarn'd, to his vices and follies return'd, 

Although the Great Plague made the City a grave, 
And then the next year half of London was 
burn'd. 

Well, many an alley, where lingering lay 

The seeds of infection that yet might have spread. 

Was swept by the great conflagration away ; 
And healthier dwellings arose in its stead. 

So, too, out of scenes of commotion and blood 
Sprang much of the freedom that England 
enjoys ; 

For God overrules even evil for good, 
And ev'ry event in his service employs. 



A.D 



224 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



1683. 



h. 1633 

ace. 1685, 

d. 1701 



i 



-^te^i^t^ 



103. THE RTB-HOUSE PLOT. 

The year sixteen hundred and eighty and three 
(Just two years before James the Second's 
accession) 

Gave birth to a project to set the land free 

From fears of a king of the Romish profession. 

Of Romanist plots there had been not a few, 
But this was a plot with the Protestant view 
Of keeping out James, Duke of York, from the 

throne, 
A very desirable end we must own ; 
But then it included a horrible thing — 
No less a design than to murder the king. 
The Rye-House -stt-Hoddesdon was named as the 

spot, 
And hence it was known as the great Rye-House 

Plot. 
Both Lord William Russell, a high-minded man, 
And Algernon Sidney, took part in the plan. 
They both were beheaded. 'Tis mostly believ'd 
That neither of them for a moment conceiv'd 
A thought of the wicked and murd'rous extent 
To which the conspiracy certainly went. 
Be this as it may, yet we cannot but feel 
They grievously err'd through their Protestant 

zeal: 
They freedom of conscience and liberty sought ; 
But not by such means may these blessings be 

bought. 



A.D. 



ENGLISH HISTORY. 



225 



WJiile honest, unsullied and pure, are our views, 
So also should be all the means that we use. 
They broke the great precept so holy and true : 
We may not do evil that good may ensue. 



1685. 104. MONMOUTH'S REBELLION. 

'Twas in the early part of James the Second's 

troubled reign 
That James, the Duke of Monmouth, sought the 

sceptre to obtain ; 
A son of Charles the Second (not legitimate) was 

he: 
His bold pretext to set the land from Romish 

thraldom free. 
The West of England's lovely vales of war became 

the seat, 
J-^^Z^ 5,1685. XJntn the Duke, at Sedgemoor, met a terrible 

defeat. 
He perish' d on the scaffold ; — the revolt was wholly 

quelled. 
The terrible assizes, in the West by Jeffreys heldj 
Made martyrs out of rebels ; helping thus to pave 

the way 
For William's hearty welcome when he landed at 

Torbay. 



A.D. 



1688. 



226 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



June 29, 1688. 



105. THE SEVEN" BISHOPS. 

Think not that courage can be shown 
On well- fought battle-fields alone ; 
Or that a nation's liberties 
Only in revolutions rise. 
When James, in sixteen eighty-eight, 
Sought, by his famous declaration. 
The Romish Church to reinstate. 
And force the Pope upon the nation, 
Sev'n Bishops, in the Church's cause, 
Refus'd his mandate to fulfil, 
As being contrary to laws 
More binding than a monarch's will. 
The king might give the Romanist 
Such liberty as he thought fit ; 
But from their pulpits, they persist. 
He shall not make them publish it. 
James to the utmost strain' d his power 
To gain his object. He committed 
The sev'n brave Bishops to the Tower, 
And they were tried, but all acquitted. 
And in the list of those brave men 
Who have stood forth to guard our rights. 
The names of Sancroft and of Ken 
Will ever count as shining lights. 



A.D. 



ENGLISH HISTORY. 



22 J' 



Nov. 5, 1688. 
h. 1650,c?.l702 



July 1, 1690. 

I. 1664, ) 

ace. 1702, [ 

d. 1714. ; 



1706, 1704, 
1708, 1709. 



106. THE REYOLUTIOK 

In sixteen hundred eighty-eiglit, on famous Guy 

Fawkes' day, 
William, tlie Prince of Orange, came, and landed 

at Torbay. 
A stanch and sterling Protestant this Stadtholder 

was reckon' d ; 
And so the English made him king, and drove out 

James the Second, 
Who (tho' the Irish Catholics and French his 

standard join,) 
Sustain' d a sore defeat in sixteen ninety at the 

Boyne. 
Now James, he had two daughters; Mary, William's 

wife was one ; 
The other, Anne, succeeded, after William's race 

was run ; 
And in her reign John Churchill, Duke of Marl- 

b'rough, gain'd the day 
At E/amillies, and Blenheim, Oudenarde, and Mal- 

plaquet. 
King William had no children, and Anne's only 

son had died ; 
And so the English Parliament was call'd on to 

decide 
Who should be Anne's successor; there were 

sev'ral who had claims : 
Charles Edward (Young Pretender) and Prince 
Henry, sons of James, 



A.D. 



1689, 1701. 



228 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTOET. 



(Mind, not of James the Second, but of James the 

Second's son, 
The Chevalier St. George or old Pretender, all in 

one;) 
Third, Charles the First's grand-danghter, then a 

duchess of Savoy : 
But Romanists no longer England's sceptre might 

enjoy, 
And all these three were E/omanists, so they were 

all rejected, 
And, by the Acts of Settlement, the Parliament 

selected 
Sophia the Electress, as a Protestant, whose 

mother 
Call'd James the First her father, and King Charles 

the First her brother. 
But as she died before Queen Anne, her eldest son, 

well known 
As George the First, instead of her, succeeded to 

the throne ; 
And thus the House of Hanover, whose lineage 

was traced 
Direct from James the First, upon the English 

throne was placed. 
But still the House of Stuart cherish'd hopes that 

days might come. 
When once again on England's throne, they yet 

might bow to Rome ; 
Aud Scotland, (whence you know the royal House 

of Stuart came,) 
The stronghold of the Jacobites, still kept alive the 
flame. 



A.D. 



Sept. 21, 1745 



Apr. 16, 1746 



June 15, 1215. 
1258 to 1265. 



1649. 



ENGLISH HISTOET. 



229 



In sev'nteen hundred forty-five, aided by Scottish 

clans, 
Charles Edward was successM at the fight of 

Preston Pans ; 
'Twas all in vain ;— the Stuarts' final overthrow we 

fix 
With fam'd Culloden's fatal fight in sev'nteen 

forty- six. 



107. EIS-GLAND'S LIBERTIES. 

Mark well how England's liberties 
Through many centuries have grown 

By slow and gradual degrees, 

Or have been wrested from the throne. 

The lapse of centuries has seen 

Our freedom slowly brought about ; 

Yet striking epochs there have been 
When much was boldly carried out. 

First, Magna Charta, wrung from John, 
A firm and sure foundation laid ; 

De Montfort led the Barons on, 

And further progress then was made. 

Charles Stuart, vainly, to his cost. 
Essay' d to aggrandize the crown. 

EuU soon his throne and life he lost : 
The people would not be kept down. 



A.D. 



230 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTOET. 



And when King James tlie Second tries 
1688. To rivet fast his Romish chain, 

The people all-indignant rise, 
And full religious freedom gain. 

Then truly thankful we may be 
For freedom such as we enjoy : 

Through the wide world we nowhere see 
Freedom so free from all alloy, 



Either of hateful tyranny, 

Or lawless license, as our own ; 

Freedom combined with loyalty. 

And love and rev'rence for the throne. 



PART THE SEVENTH. 



ENGLAND'S VICTOEIES. 



A.D. 



ENGLAND S VICTOEIES. 



233 



108. ENGLAND'S VICTOEIES. 



Whence comes it then that we, 

The tenants of an isle so small, 
Whether on land or on the sea. 
Seem destin'd conquerors to be, 
Vanquishing all ? 

Is this an idle boast ? 

Reverses we indeed have met, 
But we shall vainly seek the coast 
On which as yet a British host 

Its foot has set. 

And when it came to meet 

With any foe of any race, 
Has snffer'd nnretriev'd defeat. 
Or, wholly vanquish' d, in retreat 
Has found disgrace. 



1429. 



In olden times we see 

That doughty maiden, Joan of Arc, 
Setting her conquer'd country free ; 
She gains no world-famed victory 

Of note or mark. 



A.D. 



234 



EPITOME OE UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



1809. 
1842, 



1346. 



1356. 

1367. 

d. 1388. 



Oct. 25, 1415 



America may claim 

The boast of having overthrown 
The Briton ; but her sons the name 
Of Britons bore, — in race the same 

As Britain's own. 

And if men ask thee when 

The evil star of Britain shone, 
IS'ame fever- stricken Walcheren, 
And Khyber's fearful Pass, and then 

Thy task is done. 

But if, perchance, they challenge thee to show 
Some field where sore defeat and overthrow 
Befel some powerful and vaunting foe, 
And England gain'd the day, 

Then proudly point to Cressy's glorious scene, 
And that victorious prince, but just sixteen ; 
Nobly he won his knightly spurs, I ween. 
In that decisive fray. 

Tell how he conquer'd at Poictiers again. 
Then of his famous victory in Spain, 
When even brave Du Guesclin fought in vain 
Against brave Edward's son. 

Then turn to famous Agincourt, and tell 
How Henry fought so valiantly and well, 
And how on fourfold numbers there he fell. 
And victory was won. 



A.D. 



1704. 

1708, 1709. 

1706. 



1704. 
1705. 



1801. 



1803, 1803. 
1799. 



1809. 



ENGLAND S VICTORIES. 



235 



And then remember Blenheim's glorious day, 
And those of Oudenarde, and Malplaquet, 
And Ramillies, where Marlb'rough led the way 
To victory and fame. 

And trophies too there are in other lands ; 
Ask how Gibraltar came to English hands, 
And if Montjuich still a witness stands 
To Peterborough's name. 

And " Egypt," on whose shore, in fullest tide 
Of victory, brave Abercromby died. 
By England's sons may well be read with pride 
On many British flags, 

Whilst others tell of battles ne'er surpass'd, 
Whose names in hist'ry shall for ever last, 
And seem a halo of renown to cast 
Around those war-worn rasrs. 

Others proclaim what mighty deeds were done 
Beneath the rays of India's burning sun, 
How Laswarree and great Assaye were won, 
And mighty Tippoo fell. 

Then the Peninsula alone can claim 
The record of full m.any a glorious name, 
When England's valiant sons the foe o'ercame,- 
A list too long to tell. 

Like glorious stars of chiefest magnitude. 
With wonder and with admiration view'd. 
Amid a lesser host around them strew'd. 
Rise Talavera's plain 



A.D. 



236 



EPITOME OF TJNIVEESAL HISTOKT. 



1811. 
1812. 
1813. 



1813. 
1814, 1814. 



1815. 



1854. 
1854. 



And terrible Fuentes' stubborn fight ; 
Then Salamanca rises to the sight, 
And then Yittoria, and the Frenchman's flight 
From liberated Spain. 

Then come the Pyrenees, and then once more, 
With Orthes and Toulouse, a war was o'er ; 
But one more glorious field was yet in store 
For England's arms to gain. 

Greatest of all is famous Waterloo, 
Where Wellington ISTapoleon overthrew, 
And gave to war-exhausted Europe too 
The peace for which he toil'd. 

And well, I trow, the sturdy Muscovites 
Learn'd at the Alma how the Briton fights ; 
And then again from Inkerman's proud heights 
Discomfited recoil'd. 

But have not other lands their victories ? 
Ay, truly ; great and glorious as these 
Are those of France, on land ; still are the seas 
Our undisputed throne. 

But then the valour of great, conqu'ring France, 
Elsewhere resistless in her brave advance, 
Serves only England's glory to enhance, 
By England overthrown. 

But if of Britain's prowess 

On the deep sea they ask, 
With flushing cheek right willingly 

Mayst thou accept the task. 



A.D. 



England's victories. 



237 



1588. 
1782. 

1794. 



1797. 
1797. 
1798. 



1801. 
1805. 



1813. 
1816. 



Tell how the great Armada, 

In fifteen eighty-eight 
Sent to invade our native shores, 

Met a disastrous fate. 

Tell of the gallant Rodney, 

Victor in eighty-two, 
And of that famous First of June 

When Howe the foe o'erthrew. 

Of Jervis at St. Yincent, 

Duncan at Camperdown, 
And then how Nelson at the Nile 

Achieved his great renown. 

How he at Copenhagen 

All obstacles defied ; 
And how on great Trafalgar's day 

Our greatest Hero died. 

Such lustre dims the glory 

That yet full great appears 
In Broke who took the " Chesapeake," 

And Exmouth at Algiers. 

But let us well beware, 

Nor make these triumphs empty boasts ; 

Remember, 'tis the Lord of Hosts 
Gives vict'ry everywhere. 

If England has o'er thrown 

In deadly fight the foeman's ranks. 
Then let her grateful sons give thanks 

To Him, and Him alone. 



A.D. 



238 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



To Him alone we owe 

Those wondrons energies and powers 
By which still conqu'ring on we go ; 
The might that vanquishes the foe 

Is his alone, not ours. 

And yet by human means 

God works, with all at his command ; 
Amid the battle's fiercest scenes. 
Or where the humblest widow gleans, 

'Tis He who guides the hand. 

Thus the inquiring mind, 

Which seeks his wondrous ways to trace, 
In history a clue may find 
To qualities that seem combined 

In modern Britain's race. 

The stardy Briton laid 

The first foundations of its strength ; 
Four hundred years the Romans stayed 
Until the warlike Saxons made 

The land their own at length. 

Then the sea-loving Dane 

Made it his home ; the I^orman brave 
Then won the land ; and not in vain. 
For in our blood there still remain 

The traits each nation gave. 

Keen valour in the fight. 

And aptitude for useful arts, 
Spirit to climb adventure's height. 
And stern endurance, all unite 

To play their sev'ral parts. 



A.D. England's victoeies. " 239 

Britain ! thou favoured isle ! 

Mayst thou sucli blessings rightly use ! 
If Heaven thus deigns on thee to smile, 
Oh mayst thou ever, free from guile. 

The path of honour choose ! 



109. THE GlYER OF YICTOHT. 

England, mistress of the seas ! 
Who shall count thy victories ? 
Long may yet thy navies keep 
Sov'reignty o'er all the deep ! 

Yet from foes to guard thy coasts 
Trust not in thy strength alone ; 
Great Jehovah, Lord of hosts, 
As thy sole protector own ! 

The battle is not to the strong, 
Nor to the swift alone the race : — 
Thou shalt not be victor long, 
If the Lord avert his face. 

Strong and stable shalt thou stand. 
If thy cause but righteous be : 
On the sea and on the land, 
He shall give thee victory. 



A.D. 


240 EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 




110. THE ARMADA. 




JiJiT 1588. 




Wlio shall rival miglity Spain, 




On the land or on the main ? 




See ! she sends her valiant bands 




Forth to many distant lands : 




Cortez, Montezuma's foe, 


1518. 


Conquers golden Mexico ; 




Stern Pizarro's arms subdue 


1531. 


Famous, silver-fraught Peru. 




"EoYT a bold attempt is made. 




Even England to invade : 




Philip finds, to his dismay. 




England no such easy prey ; 




And, in fifteen-eighty-eight. 




His Armada meets its fate. 


July 20, 1588. 


Then a famous fight was fought. 


6.1521,(^.1593. 
6^.1594, 


. Full with England's freedom fraught. 


(. Hawkins, Frobisher, and Drake, 


6.1545,(^.1596. 


3 Thro' the Spanish squadrons break ; 


6.1536,cZ.1624. 
6.1552,(^.1618. 


I Howard brave, and Raleigh too. 


Show'd themselves good men and true. 




Puny ships were theirs indeed. 




Yet they met that hour of need. 




In the Channel, close at hand, 




In the very sight of land. 




Gravelines beheld the fight. 




And the Spanish navy's flight, 



A.D. 



ENGLAND S VICTORIES. 



241 



Or tliat of all which still remain'd 
After the victory was gain'd, 
For few indeed the Spaniard saves 
From English guns and stormy waves. 
All the vast invading host 
There collected on the coast, 
Bootless may go back again ; 
Parma's toil is all in vain, 
England is no prize for Spain. 



111. RODNEY'S YICTOHT. 

Apeil 12, 1782. 

d. 1792. Rodney's famous victory, 

Call'd alone by his great name, 
In the annals of the sea 

Proud pre-eminence may claim. 

In the spring of eighty- two, 
O'er Atlantic's broad expanse, 

Spain had many a gallant crew. 
Many a gallant crew had France. 

See Solano and De Grrasse 

'Mid the bright West Indies cruising 

All uncheck'd, — while we, alas ! 

More than one fair isle were losing. 

"Woe to thee, Jamaica, woe ! 

If but once their fleets unite 
Who shall then avert the blow ? 

On thy shores it must alight. 



A.D. 



242 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



Feh. 1782. Three successive actions fouglit, 

6.1724,£^.1816. Early in tlie year by Hood, 

With but small result were fraught ; 
Still the foe nnconqiier'd stood. 

E/odney then from home arrives : 
Soon his ships the combat seek ; 

Northward then De Grrasse he drives 
Past the Isle of Dominique. 

On the twelfth of April then 

Rodney's famous fight was fought : 

Stouter ships and braver men 
Battle ne'er together brought. 

Rodney by a master-stroke 

(New was then that bold design), 

Through the line of battle broke, 
Doubling then on half the line. 

Ne'er was triumph more complete ; 

Not in vain brave Rodney toil'd ; 
France lost nearly all her fleet ; 

All her great designs were foil'd. 

Honour to the brave De Grrasse ; 

Whom, — it is but fair to say, — 
None in courage could surpass ; 

But Rodney fought with him that day. 



A.D. 



ENGLAND S YICTORIES. 



243 



5.1725,cZ.1799 



112. HOWE'S YICTORT. 
Jttne 1st, 1794. 

Gratefal England will not soon 
Howe's great victory forget ; 

On the glorious first of June, 
Yillaret-Joyeuse he met. 

Great supplies the foe expect ; 

France for food is sorely press'd ; 
These from England to protect, 

Yillaret sails out from Brest. 

What ! has France so soon forgot 
Rodney's fight in 'eighty- two ? 

Near to Ushant is the spot 

Where the fleets came first in view. 

Never were manoeuvres made 
On so great and grand a scale ; 

Five whole days the game was play'd ; 
Each had nearly thirty sail. 

On the twenty-eighth of May 

First a scatter' d fight they wage ; 

Fighting still the following day, 
Howe still seeks the weather-gage. 

Then came thick and misty weather, 
On the two succeeding days ; 

Still the fleets keep close together, 
Fog alone the fight delays. 



A.D. 



244 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



See ! The haze has clear'd away ; 

Brightly forth the sun has burst ; 
Other ships join'd Yillaret ; 

He resolv'd to brave the worst. 

Howe design' d the Kne to break,— 
Not with ships, in column form'd. 

Sailing in each other's wake, — 
One -breach only being storm'd; — 

No ; attacking all abreast, 

Ev'ry ship the line shall pierce, 

Pass to leeward, fight its best, 
Barring flight with onset fierce. 

Howe does all that lies in man, — 
Higher praise no mortal needs ; 

Great and noble is the plan, 
Though but partly it succeeds : 

All too close the French ships lay. 
Some of ours could not get through 

Some, too eager for the fi:"ay. 
Kept not well the end in view. 

See ! the flagship nears the line ; 

Not an idle shot she throws ; 
As she rounds the huge Montague, 

Crashing in the broadside goes. 

Through the line she holds her way, 
Fighting soon a double foe ; 

While the landsman, Saint Andre, 
Terror-stricken, flies below. 



A.D. England's victories. 245 

Fiercely now tlie battle raged ; 

See the Yengeur sinking fast ! 
Howe in tnrn four ships engaged ; 

Such a fight not long could last. 

Villaret sees all is lost ; 

Ten ships strike the Tricolor ; 
More than these the fight had cost, 

Had the victors press'd them sore. 

Precious time is thrown away 
Wliilst securing some of these ; 

Profiting by this delay 

All the rest escape with ease. 

Six were captur'd, and remain'd 
Trophies of this famous fight ; 

One was sunk, — the others gain'd 
Safety by inglorious flight. 



113. ST. YIlSrCENT. 

Febeuaey 14th, 1797. 

In 'ninety-seven the Dutch and Spanish fleets 
Both met with signal and complete defeats. 
Prance, having both these fleets at her command, 
Some secret, bold descent on Britain plann'd ; 
And sought, to carry out the great design. 
These navies in Brest harbour to combine. 
So Jervis with a fleet was southward sent. 
Whilst Duncan's fleet to watch De Winter went. 



A.D. 



S.1734,dl823 



246 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Brave Jervis had not long to cruise 

The Spanish coast about, 
Before he heard the welcome news : 

The Dons had ventur'd out. 

Cordova's fleet he overtakes, 
And soon the fight begins ; 

Bright gallantly the line he breaks, 
And thus the battle wins. 

The Dons had eight and thirty sail, 

The English had fifteen ; 
But numbers were of no avail 

Where Nelson's flag was seen. 

Nelson, who show'd himself no dunce 
That day in his profession. 

Attacking seven big ships at once, 
Took two in quick succession. 

Bight many a captain fought full well 
And many a page t'would need, 

The prowess of each one to tell, 
And each heroic deed. 

The dead and dying strew the decks 

Of many a noble prize ; 
And there amid a mass of wrecks 

Our batter'd squadron lies. 

In doubt and sore dismay the Don 
Asks what had best be done : 

Two of his captains say, " Fight on;" 
But most prefer to run. 



A.D. 



England's victories. 



247 



i.l731,c?.l804. 



Thus many ships, as well they might, 

Got clear awaj, 'tis true ; 
We had too few one half to fight 

And catch the others too. 

Remember well St. Valentine, 

For on his famous day. 
Brave Jervis through the Spanish line 

Hight nobly led the way. 

An earldom Jervis gain'd, which took its name 
From Cape St. Vincent, where he won his fame. 



114. CAMPERDOWN. 
OcTOBEE 11th, 1797. 

The Dutch fleet in the Texel lay, 

And Duncan lay outside ; 
And all the summer pass'd away 

Before their strength they tried. 

Bat when at last October came. 

Orders De Winter got 
To sail for Brest, and risk the game, 

Whether he won or not. 

Home to refit oar fleet had gone ; 

But Duncan was not slack, 
And hearing what the Dutch had done, 

At once he hasten'd back. 



A.D. 



248 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Off Camperdown tlie foe lie met, 

And up he quickly bore ; 
Contriving gallantly to get 

Between him and the shore. 

The famous action that ensued 
"Was fought so close to land, 

That a vast, anxious multitude 
Beheld it from the sand. 

His ship right well De Winter fought 

Till totally dismasted ; 
This to a close the action brought, 

Or longer it had lasted. 

Eleven ships, so nobly gain'd, 
Won Duncan great renown, 

And thus a peerage he obtained 
Called after Camperdown. 



115. THE NILE. 

August 1st, 1708. 

Though she may no insult brook, 
England, conscious of her power, 
On the clouds that sometimes lower 
Calmly can afford to look. 

Self-reliant, free from rancour, 
Still to Nelson's words we cling : 
" Where the French have room to swing, 
There is room for us to anchor." 



A.D. England's victoeies. 249 



First of August, 'ninety-eight, 
Anchor'd in Aboukir's bay, 
Close in shore, brave Brueys lay, 
Soon to meet a sailor's fate. 

Nelson long the foe had' chased ; 
Up with eager haste he bore ; 
'Twixt the French ships and the shore, 
Soon the English ships he placed. 

What tho' one ship takes the ground, 
Batteries and shoals among : 
Where the enemy had swung, 
Boom to anchor Nelson found. 

Bravely Brueys fought awhile 
Till the decl^ his life-blood stain'd. 
Nelson, ere the dawn, had gain'd 
Deathless glory at the Nile. 

A wound that early in the strife 
Nelson receiv'd, soon spread around 
Dismay and terror, till they found 
Unharm'd and safe — oh, joyful sound ! 
The dauntless hero's Hfe. 

And when in agony convey'd 
Down from the deck, how nobly then 
Till ev'ry one of his brave men 
Had had his turn, he o'er again 
Befases ev'ry aid. 



A.D. 



250 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 



But look ! Amid the battle's height, 
What fierce volcano hurls on high 
Its fiery volumes to the sky, 
O'erspreading heav'n's dark canopy 
With one broad glare of light ? 

As though their deadly work were done, 
In dread suspense, war's hardiest sons 
Stand motionless beside their guns. 
And through the group the whisper runs 
" The ' L'Orient' is gone." 

The battle's wild and deaf'ning roar 
Was for the moment grimly hush'd ; 
And then the cheek again was flush' d, 
As to the deadly fight they rush'd 
More fiercely than before. 

For ere the ' L'Orient's' awful kneU 
High o'er the din of battle peal'd. 
Her flaming masts and shrouds reveal' d 
What shadowy night till then conceal' d : 
The fight was speeding well. 



Full many a tricolor was down. 
Of thirteen vessels of the line, 
But two escape the fight, while nine, 
Rewarding Nelson's bold design, 
This famous conquest crown. 

Well had the Gaul his duty done : 
Bravely the foe may fight and bleed, 



A.D. 



ENGLAND S YICTOEIES. 



251 



But England surely must succeed 
Wliile heroes like a ISTelson lead 
Her daring warriors on. 

And lo ! a solemn silence reign'd 
Throughout that conqu'ring British fleet 
Thanksgiving, like an incense sweet, 
Was rising to the Mercy-seat 
For this great vict'ry gain'd. 



116. ]SrELSO:N' AT COPEI^HAGEN. 
Apeil 2nd, 1801. 

Bonaparte, whose great ambition 

Ever plotted England's fall, 
Cans' d the l!Torthern coalition, 

Nations bending at his call. 

Bight of search, and doubtful laws 

111 defining war's blockade, 
Outwardly appear'd the cause 

Why this Northern league was made. 

Jealousy of England's might 

Beally cans' d the Dane and Swede 

Thus to join the Muscovite 
In this anti-British deed. 

Denmark thus was borne along 
On that mighty northern tide ; 

Denmark's fleet was stout and strong. 
So Britannia she defied. 



A.D. 252 EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 

England, now arise, awake ! 

Else be fallen now for ever ; 
Thou this N'orthern league must break, 

Thou this compact must dissever. 

Parker soon, and Nelson, lead 

England's fleet for Denmark bound ; 

All her strength shall Denmark need ; 
See ! they boldly pass the Sound. 

Copenhagen, woe to thee ! 

Famous city of the Dane ! 
Though thy sons heroic be, 

All their valour shall be vain. 

See ! in eager haste they swarm, 
Each his utmost aid to lend ; 

Forts and batteries to arm, 

Eravely to the work they bend. 

All that man could well effect, 
Fearfully was now array'd 

Copenhagen to protect ; 

Buoys removed, and barriers made. 

Fireships, batteries immense, 
Liners mann'd by gallant souls j 

Nature adds for their defence 
Narrow channels, fatal shoals. 

One vast shoal alone extends 
All along the harbour's front ; 

Surely this the Dane defends 
From the battle's fiercest brunt. 



■^•^- England's victoeies. 253 



All was vain, for one was there 
Whom no batteries could stay ; 

Nelson, brave to do and dare, 
Led a British fleet that day. 

Day and night the hero toils ; 

^N'atnre's self is overcome ; 
Ev'ry obstacle he foils, 

Seal'd is Copenhagen's doom. 

Now the day has come at last. 

See ! the liners round the shoal ; 
Three of them have grounded fast, 

But the others reach the goal. 

With his frigates, brave Biou 
Boldly took the liners' post ; 

Doing all that man could do, 

Though the deed his life-blood cost. 

Ne'er had even Nelson known 
Such a fierce and deadly fray ; 

Bravely Denmark holds her own, 
Surely Nelson must give way ! 

Honour be to Parker's name : 

Nelson's well-earn' d fame to save. 

Taking on himself the blame, 
Signal of recall he gave. 

Nelson dares to disobey, 

Fighting still unflinching on, 

Till at last he gains the day ; 
Victory at length is won. 



A.D. 



254 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Messages are sent on shore, 
Not with hasty wafer seal'd ; 

Denmark's fleet is now no more, 
Denmark is compell'd to yield. 

Soon an armistice is made. 

France, if yet she think it meet, 
England's shores may now invade. 

But without the Danish fleet. 



h. Sept. 29, 
1758, 
d. 1805 



n 



117. TRAFALGAR. 

OCTOBEfi 2l8T, 1805. 

" England expects that ev'ry man 
Will do his duty," was the battle-cry 

With which immortal Nelson led the van, 
To conquer, and to die. 

Yilleneuve in Cadiz' harbour lay ; 

Safe were the French and Spanish fleets, no 
doubt ; 
But when he heard that Nelson stood away, 

At last he ventured out. 

Repeating frigates tell the tale : 

And swift as eagles swooping on their prey, 
The British vessels, crowding ev'ry sail, 

Soon reach Trafalgar Bay. 

Mark well, October twenty-one, 

In the year eighteen hundred five, was fought 
Trafalgar's famous fight surpass' d by none : 

Victory dearly bought. 



A.D. 



EI^GLAND'S VICTOEIES. 



255 



For ISTelson's great career was run ; 

Mid shouts of victory — a fitting knell 
For one whose task of triumph now was done, — 

Right gloriously he fell. 

From that eventful, fatal hour, 

Napoleon, of his navy wholly stripp'd. 

On land might still make nations feel his power 
At sea his wings were clipp'd. 

All Europe, vanquish' d or alarm' d, 

Lay helpless at the mighty monarch's feet ; 

England alone still proudly stood unharm'd ; 
Napoleon had no fleet. 



118. COPENHAGEN IN 1807. 

Septembee 8th, 1807. 

In the year eighteen hundred and sev'n we find 

The Emp'ror Napoleon with Russia combined. 

To seize on a sudden the great Northern fleets, 

And thus to repair his own naval defeats. 

England, aware of these designs. 

Makes ofi'ers which the Dane declines ; 

Then acts at once by sea and land, — 

Grambier and Cathcart in command, — 

And Copenhagen once more feels 

How swift the blows that England deals. 

True, Denmark was not then our foe. 

But England had full proof to show 

That Denmark's fleet was on the verge 

Of being seized by Europe's scourge, — • 



A.P. 



266 



EPITOME OP UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



No shadowy or vain pretence, — 
And so she took, in self-defence, 
A fleet, which in a few weeks more 
Might have been tnrn'd against her shore. 
Well, for all that, the thing was wrong, 
Though doubtless the excuse is strong. 
Our foes, of course, the act will blame : 
Say, which would not have done the same ? 



119. THE SHAN:^^©^ and THE 

CHESAPEAKE. 

June 1st, 1813. 

Child of victory ! 
Where is now thy boasted might ? 
Lo ! in the thundering sea-fight 
Yainly flash thy guns ; 
Thine own revolted sons 
Now conquer thee. 
Albion ! wake, arise ! 
Canst thon wonder at defeat, 
K ships like thine are doom'd to meet 
Frigates fast and fine. 
Like vessels of the line 
In frigates' guise ? 
Canst thou hope to gain 
Victory with ships half mann'd ? 
Columbia's too, far better plann'd. 
Hurl a broadside's weight 
Oft nearly twice as great, 
And not in vain. 



A.D. 



ENGLAND S YICTORIES. 



257 



5.1776,(^.1841 



Albion, hide thy face ! 
More than one good ship is gone ; 
And canst thou then not capture one ? 
Who the foe shall brave, 
And thus thine honour save 
From such disgrace ? 

Who the foe shall dare ? 
Up the gallant Shannon bore, 
And soon arrived at Boston's shore. 
See! she conies to seek 
And fight the Chesapeake 
At anchor there. 

Broke at once detach' d 
On a cruise far out to sea, 
The ship that bore him. company. 
Yict'ry must be won 
In combat, gun for gun, 
All fairly match'd. 

Mark the challenge bold : 
Gallant Broke the foe defies 
To fight his ship of equal size ; 
Ere the sun go down 
Let each his flag's renown 
In fight uphold. 

Eager for the fray, 
Lawrence then was sailing out, 
Amid the cheer and deaf 'ning shout ; 
Sure that victory. 
One triumph more at sea. 
Shall crown the day. 



A.D. 



258 



EPITOME OF TNIVERSAL HISTOEY. 



Hark ! tlie cannon loud 
Opens now its angry roar ; 
And thousands watching from the shore 
Scarcely dare to breathe, 
As high the smoke- drifts wreathe 
A snowy cloud. 

Singly then at first, 
Yet with sure and deadly aim, 
The flashes from the Shannon came. 
With a whole broadside 
The Chesapeake replied 
In one wild burst. 

Drifting more and more, 
See ! the Chesapeake has now 
Fallen athwart the Shannon's bow : 
Closely thus engaged 
A deadly fight they waged ; 
'Twill soon be o'er. 

Close the ships now lay ; 
Conquer' d soon the foe shall be ; 
For, on the land or on the sea, 
When did foe withstand 
The Briton, hand to hand. 
And gain the day ? 

Bravely then and well 
Stevens, though with one arm gone, 
Oover'd with wounds, yet holding on. 
While death around him crash'd, 
The ships together lash'd, 
And nobly fell. 



A.D. 



England's victories. 



259 



See ! they seize the pike : 
Broke has giv'n the word to board, — 
With loud hurrahs they grasp the sword ; 
On the foe's own deck 
His vaunting they shall check, 
And make him strike. 

Now Broke leads them on : 
O'er the bulwarks, on they rush. 
And quickly all resistance crush. 
Bold Columbia's flag 
Down to the deck they drag : 
The day is won. 

Thus the mastery 
Albion's flag at sea regain'd ; 
And all supreme she has remain'd 
Since her valiant son 
In fifteen minutes won 
That victory. 

There, ofi" Boston's shore, 
Broke had won undying fame. 
And wash'd the stain from Albion's name; 
There, before their eyes. 
The Chesapeake, his prize, 
Away he bore. 



A.D. 



J.l757,c?.1833. 



260 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTOKT. 



120. ALGIERS. 



August 27th, 1816. 



Who shall break the captive's chain ? 

Who shall free the Christian slave ? 
Europe pleads, but pleads in vain ; 

Who this haughty Dej shall brave ? 

Erom the dungeons of Algiers 
Loud the Christian captives cry ; 

Not in vain Britannia hears, — 
Not in vain, for help is nigh. 

Do thy worst, thou cruel Dey : 
Man the ship and man the wall : 

Exmouth now is on his way ; 
Soon thy pride shall have a fall. 

August twenty- seventh sees 
That terrific, fierce attack ; 

Eiercely too the batteries 
Eling the iron tempest back. 

Hark ! A thousand flashing guns 
Hurl their bolts upon the fleet ; 

But 'tis mann'd by Albion's sons, 
Well inur'd that storm to meet. , 

On the ruins of Algiers 

Stormily the sun descends ; 

When the morniug reappears. 
See ! the foe submissive bends. 



A.D. 



England's victories. 



261 



May 1, 1769. 



March7,V7Sl 



Pull indemnity is paid, — 

Full a thousand slaves are free, — 
Full apology is made ; 

All, brave Exmoutli, thanks to thee. 

Aw'd by England's mighty power. 
Then the Dey his promise gave ; 

And Algiers, since that great hour, 
Has not seen one Christian slave. 



WELLINGTON. 

121. EAELY CAEEER: INDIA. 

Hibernia may be proud to claim 

Amongst her sons this child of fame. 

No greater chief in any age 

Has ever filled a gTaphic page 

In history, or glory gained 

More free from blemish, more unstained. 

The duke was born in sixty -nine, 

The ofi'spring of the noble line 

Of Mornington^ To Eton sent, 

He afterwards to Angers went ; 

And there six years the youth remained 

In military science trained ; 

And then, at eighteen years of age, 

He enter' d on life's chequered stage. 

As Ensign in the Sev'nty-third. 

Promotion was not long deferred : 

To one of such a noble name. 



j .„. 


262 EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 




Of course advancement quickly came. 


1794. 


At twenty-five (in 'ninety-four), 




Lieutenant-Colonel's rank lie bore ; 




The English troops in Flanders then 




Were led by inefficient men ; 




Here, with the Thirty-third, we meet 




The hero cov'ring a retreat. ^ 
Already in those early days, 






His skill and courage win him praise. 


1797. 


In 'ninety-seven we find hiin land 




In India with a high command ; 




And Tippoo Sultan quickly feels 




The fearful blow that Welle sley deals. 


1799. 


Mysore's great capital soon falls. 




And Tippoo dies upon its walls. 




Then of Mysore the conqueror 




Was justly made the governor. 




Full well he filled this lofty station, 




Blameless in his administration : 




And show'd with what consummate skill 




A civil office he could fill. V 




From Doondiah next, the robber chief, 




He gave the harassed land relief; 




And then the great Mahratta war 




Spread his renown both wide and far ; 


^ep^. 23, 1803. 


And on the plains of famed Assaye, 




Yictorious Wellesley gain'd the day. 




Thus, with his Indian glory earned. 


1805. 


He, now Sir Arthur, home returned. 


- 



A.D. 



ENGLAIO) S VICTORIES. 



263 



1807. 



122. THE PENINSULA. 

Meanwliile, a miglitier conqueror 
Than Europe e'er had seen before, 
By valour and by matchless skill 
Was bending nations to his will. 
Soon by his giant strides alarmed, 
Successively the nations armed. 
Upsetting and creating thrones, 
No limit to his will he owns. 
England had chosen as her part, 
Napoleon's gTeat designs to thwart ; 
And dared the conqueror to brave 
Who would have made her else his slave. 
Full many a naval victory 
Had shaken his supremacy. 
Great Nelson was not now alive. 
But his last fight, in eighteen five, 
Napoleon's navy had destroy 'd : 
Yet others might be still employ'd ; 
With Russian, Swedish, Danish aid. 
He yet might England's shores invade. 
So England seized the Danish fleet ; 
And thus Sir Arthur next we meet 
At Copenhagen in command. 
With Cathcart as his chief on land, — 
Where soon he meets the gallant Danes, 
And an important action gains. 

Next on a wider, nobler sphere. 
He was to run his great career : 



A.D. 



Aug. 1808. 



Aug. 22, 1808, 



Aug. 21, 1808. 



April 1809. 



5.l769,cZ.1851 



264 



EPITOME OF UXIVEESAL HTSTORT. 



King Ferdinand had ceased to reign, 
And Joseph, wore the crown, of Spain ; 
Then Spanish pride at length awoke : 
Chafing beneath the galling yoke, 
The Spaniard called on ns for aid. 
And soon the summons was obeyed. 
First to the shores of Portugal, 
Held in the mighty Frenchman's thrall, 
Sir Arthur Wellesley bent his way, 
And landed in Mondego Bay. 
But useless are his gallant deeds : 
Burrard the hero supersedes ; 
Cintra's convention saves the foe 
From sore defeat and overthrow. 
Roli9a's fight indeed is won. 
In glory sets Yimiera's sun; 
But Junot safely may embark. 
And only these two battles mark 
The first Peninsular campaign. 
Fought, as events soon prove, in vain ; 
For in the next succeeding year 
Napoleon's eagles re-appear; 
And thus in eighteen hundred nine. 
That brave and bright-red British line, 
With great Sir Arthur in command, 
Lands on the Tagus' sunny strand. 



Soult, posted on the Douro's bank, 
Dreamed not of an attack in flank ; 
Surely a stream like that protects 
The strong position he selects ! 



A.D. 



May 12. 



July 28. 



/Sep^. 27,1810. 



5.l758,cZ.1817 
Oct. 10. 



ENGLAND S VICTORIES. 



265 



Yes, ttis indeed it would have done, 

Prom any but a Wellington ; 

Bnt gallantly tlie stream is crossed, 

And Soult's position turned and lost. 

No bolder or more daring feat 

Than this in history we meet ; 

And splendidly it paved the way 

For Talavera's glorious day ; 

The first on which these giant foes 

In regular pitched battle close. 

Victor and Jourdan there command, — 

No better chance than Soult they stand ; 

Though two to one that day they brought 

Into the field, in vain they fought ; 

Whilst the picked veterans of France 

But served our glory to enhance 

Sir Arthur now becomes a peer, 

And thus is closed another year. 

In eighteen ten Busaco sees 

One more of these great victories. 

Then comes that marvellous retreat, 

Of which no parallel we meet. 

Except in those of Xenophon, 

And Philip, King of Macedon. 

The world that daring skill admires 

With which Sir Arthur now retires 

Into the lines long since prepared ; 

Not even skilled Massena dared 

Assault those Torres Vedras lines ; 

The task, as hopeless, he declines ; 

Thus foiled and baffled he, at length, 

Retreats in turn. Renewed in strength. 



A.D. 



266 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Lord Wellington's brave troops advance, 
In turn pursuing those of France. 

1811. Thus was another year begun, 

In which new victories were won ; 
Yet not by "Wellington alone 
Was military genius shown : 

March 5. Thus Victor at Barrossa found 

How sternly Grraham holds his ground ; 

May 16. And Albuera's fearful day 

Was won by Beresford in May, — 
Whilst Wellington, but just before, 

]i£ay 5. Fought at Fuentes, called d'Onor. 

Fuentes, at whose matchless fight, 
Massena forced the British right ; 
In vain, — for skilfully thrown back. 
It foiled completely his attack ; 
Thus in the battle's fiercest brunt, 
The English hero changed his front. 
In vain Montbrun's brave cavalry 
Sweep on to seeming victory ; 
Down, like an avalanche, they bear 
On each retiring British square 
Bright in the sun their sabres flash, — 
Madly upon the squares they dash, — 
In vain ; — the new position gain'd. 
The British now their ground maintain' d ; 
Massena, utterly at fault, 
At last abandoned the assault. 



1812. 



In eighteen twelve (we have not space 
For deeds of lesser note) took place 



A.D. 



Jan. 19. 
April 6. 



July 22. 



ENGLAND S VICTORIES. 



267 



Two sieges famed for stern defence, 
For fierce assault, and dire expense 
Of life ; Ciudad Rodrigo falls. 
And storm'd are Badajos's walls, 
Then came a victory renowned, 
Whicli Wellington with glory crowned : 
Clansel and Marmont best can tell 
How he, at Salamanca, fell 
On their too greatly weaken'd line, 
And foiled completely their design. 
Teaching the marshals, to their smart, 
A useful lesson in their art, — • 
One nsefiil too in common life. 
When we engage in needless strife: 
Let those who would outflank, beware, 
!N"or leave their own weak centre bare. 
Madrid was reached, and thence in dread 
And dire dismay King Joseph fled. 
Eut Wellington could not remain, — 
French bayonets still swarm in Spain ; 
ISTot till the next campaign we see, 
Spain from those bayonets set free. 



Here it is needless to relate 
The difl&culties grave and great, 
Which cramped and hindered every plan 
Formed by this truly wondrous man : 
Want of supplies and troops from home, — 
Sometimes raw levies only come, — 
The Spanish generals, — his friends, — 
Thwarting his most important ends ; — 



A.D. 



1813. 



June 21, 1813. 



268 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTOEY. 



His army too he must support 

(But ne'er to plunder will resort), 

And tliat too in a country drained 

By enemies, wlio ne'er refrained 

From any act of spoliation, 

Though on the land it brought starvation. 

These obstacles, and many more, 

Throughout the war he bravely bore ; 

And now at last its closing scene, 

In eighteen hundred and thirteen, 

Shows that his toils were not in vain ; 

Por in that marvellous campaign. 

Throwing his left wing forward well 

In front, upon the foe he fell ; 

Threatened in flank they dare not meet 

His fierce attacks, and so retreat ; 

Abandoning thus, one by one. 

The districts they had overrun, — 

Without a single battle given. 

Till Joseph from Madrid is driven, 

To lose upon Yittoria's plain, 

A battle and the crown of Spain. 

There Wellington together brings, 

With matchless skill, his wide spread wings,- 

Converging thus upon the foe. 

For this one grand, decisive blow. 

The fight became a rout that day; 

Jour dan his stafi" soon flung away, 

And on the battle-field 'twas found. 

Amidst the spoils that strewed the ground ; 

And with that dire, disastrous rout. 

The French at last were driven out 



1813. 



July 25. 



July 28, 1813. 



Aug, 



England's victories. 



2G9 



From Spain, whicli they had held so long 
With rapine, violence and wrono- ; 
And equalled now by none in fame, 



A marshal Wellington became. 



' 123. THE PYEENEES. 

But ere the baffled Gauls retreat 

For good and all beyond the 
Once more disaster and defeat 

Their vanquish'd eagle sees. 

Soult, who the chief command obtain'd, 
So well his force upon the British threw, 

That Roncesvalles' famed pass he gain'd, 
And Puerta Maya's too. 

'Twas the last flicker of the lamp, 
Before its flashes into darkness fail ; 

Soon Wellington regains the camp, 
And quickly turns the scale. 

Soraoren ! thy rugged heights 

For two successive days behold the fray ; 
Undauntedly the Frenchman fights, 

But must at last give way. 

Soon in wild panic and alarm 

At Echalar, Soult's army in a mass, 

Disorderly and routed, swarm 
In terror through the pass. 



A.D. 


270 EPITOME OP UNIYEESAL HISTORY. 




They reach the Bidassoa's banks, 




The frontier ignominionsly is cross'd ; 
Soult forms again his shattered ranks, 




But Spain to France is lost. 


Oct. 8. 


Forcing the Bidassoa's heights, 

The Duke soon makes the enemy retreat ; 




And combating for France's rights, 




The French he must defeat. 




For, strange to say, not as a foe 

The English conqueror must now advance ; 
He comes, as soon his actions show, 

In truth the friend of France. 


Nov. 9. 
Dec. 9. 


Soon the Mvelle was boldly cross'd, 

And then the snow-born Mve with blood was 




stain'd ; 


• 


But Soult the ground that thus he lost 




Full nearly had regain' d. 


Dec. 10. 
Dec. 13. 


Yet widely scatter'd though they lay, 

Not dreaming Soult in force was hov'ring near. 
The British held Barrouilhet, 

And conquer'd at St. Pierre. 




But mark ! upon the very eve 

Of these last desperate and deadly frays, 
Wellington earn'd — there at the Mve — 




The highest meed of praise. 




ISTow (as full oft in his career) 




A mix'd and motley army he commands ; 
Thousands of Portuguese are here, 
And countless Spanish bands. 



A.D. 



ENGLAND S VICTOEIES. 



271 



And who the Lnsitanian's rage 

Shall quench, or curb Iberia's proud son, 

Seeking their vengeance to assuage 
For wrongs the French had done ? 

Wellington's high and noble soul 

Revolted at the cry of blood for blood ; 

He did his utmost to control 
Their stern and savage mood. 

But when he saw his efforts vain, 

Come what come might, at once the worst he 
dared, 
And sent his Spaniards back to Spain, 

Though they could ill be spared. 

Search every age and every clime ; 

!N"o hero e'er gave up, as he did then, 
Lest they might stain his conquests by a crime, 

Twenty-five thousand men. 

In eighteen hundred and thirteen, 

Occurr'd this long campaign, so truly great. 

In which the Duke, as we have seen, 
Set free the Spanish State. 

What greater glory could he gain ? 

What could the victory still more enhance P 
He drove the Frenchman out of Spain, 

The Spaniard out of France. 

1814. In eighteen fourteen Soult falls back, 

Quitting his strong entrenchments at Bayonne, 
Feb. 27. And waits at Orthes the attack, 
And thinks that battle won. 



A.D. 



April 10,1814, 



May 4, 1814. 



March 1,1815. 



272 



EPITOME OP UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Wellington, foil'd on both Ms wings, 

Watching the tide of battle from a height, 

His strength on Soult's weak centre flings, 
And puts the foe to flight. 

Then last of all, around Toulouse 

Soult challenges a fight, and stands at bay ; 

The Duke must fight, he cannot choose ; 
And gains a glorious day. 

]l^ext day the joyful news was known. 

That great Napoleon, forced at length to bend, 

Had yielded up his crown and throne : 
The war was at an end. 



124. QUATEE-BEAS. 

Napoleon, now to Elba sent, 

Brooded not idly o'er his fallen state ; 

His proud, ambitious soul was bent 
On once more tempting fate. 

One year of peace ensued, and then 

France hears with mingled raptures and alarms, 
Napoleon has returned again, 

And Europe is in arms. 

Then come the famous Hundred Days, 
In which his energy and matchless skill 

At once a noble army raise ; 
He is their emp'ror still. 



A.D. 



eitgland's VICTOEIES. 



273 



June 16, 1815, 
J.l742,dl819. 



But Europe vows slie will not cease 
From war, nor let the sabre idly rust, 

Till the disturber of her peace 
Be humbled in the dust. 

England and Prussia take the field : 

Their gath'ring hosts the Belgian plains behold ; 
Napoleon, skilled the sword to wield, 

Acts boldly, as of old. 

His eagle eye has quickly scanned 

The widely scattered force of the Allies ; 

A bold campaign at once is planned, 
To take them by surprise. 

The frontier's crossed ; he hurries on 
To force the Prussians to accept a fight, 

Alone, ere they with Wellington 
Their forces can unite. 

Thus right and left to strike the foe, 

Like lightning quick and fierce the stroke he 
deals ; 
And, first of all, the crushing blow 

Blucher at Ligny feels. 

Bravely did warlike Blucher fight, 

Nor yielded till his last reserves were spent 

But Bonaparte, with all his might, 
On crushing him was bent. 

Fiercely and obstinately fought 

"Was Ligny's terrible and deadly strife ; 

And Bonaparte his triumph bought 
With fearful loss of life. 

T 



274 



EPITOME OF [JNIYEESAL HISTORY, 



The Duke indeed had promised aid, 

But Bonaparte gave liim enougli to do ; 

The promised succours were delay'd, 
And nearly beaten too. 

For whilst the fight at Ligny raged, 

Wellington, with the British Left that lay. 
At Quatre-Bras, as hotly was engaged 
5.1769, d!.1815. By famous Marshal Ney. 

Key thought that he at once could crush 
A force all unsupported and detach'd ; 

On, on, his mail-clad horsemen rush, 
But they were fully match'd. 

No British horse that day were there 
To meet his splendid cavalry and guns ; 

But they were met with serried square 
By Britain's sturdy sons, 

Who, though at first outnumbered far, 
Despite of odds and guns and cavalry 

Fought just as if this Quatre-Bras 
Were their Thermopylae. 

But fresh battahons by degrees 

Come up, and no less sternly hold their own. 
Till the approach of nightfall sees 

The enemy o'erthrown. 

'Twas well for them that all that day 
Inactive D'Erlon's whole division stood ; 

And, while it gave no aid to Key, 
Did Bonaparte no good. 



A.D. 


ENGLAND'S VICTORIES. 275 




Still Bonaparte his bold design 

Had more than half achieved, to interpose 
'Twixt Wellington's and Blncher's line 

Ere they had time to close. 




To chase the Prussians, and prevent 
Their rallying, and aiding Wellington, 

Grouchy was by Napoleon sent — 
The game seemed nearly won. 




For he the foe in twain had cleft ; 

And, doubting not to beat them in detail. 
He wheeled his army to the left, 

The British to assail. 




But Wellington, and Blucher too 

(Whom Grouchy thought well beaten and in 
flight). 
At once fell back on Waterloo, 

Their forces to unite. 


June 18, 1815. 


125. WATEELOO. 


June 17. 


The British through Gemappes retreat, 
Napoleon's squadrons pressing on behind 

So close that, in the crowded street, 
A sharp repulse they find. 


June 18. 


Thus June the seventeenth, at night. 

The Duke at Waterloo took up his ground ; 

And ready for the final fight 
Was on the morrow found. 



A.D. 276 EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. 

Two gentle slopes, two miles in length, 

Formed, with the hollow ground that lay be- 
tween, 

And some few scatter'd points of strength, 
This famous battle's scene. 

The British hold the northern height, 

With Hougomont, a wooded chateau-farm, 

Down in the hollow near their right, 
Whose walls they quickly arm. 

Another chateau-farm. La Haye, 

Below the British centre stood, and show'd 

Its hedges and its walls half way 
Up the chaussee, or road. 

That led direct from Soignies' wood. 

Through Waterloo, across the lines of heights 

On which the rival armies stood ; 
Saddest of splendid sights ! 

And there those hosts, when morning broke, 
Stood eager for the fray, like giants twain ; 

Alas ! how many thousands woke 
Never to wake again. 

And never once, most strange to say, 

In all the many wars that they had fought. 

Had these great chiefs, until this day. 
Thus face to face been brought. '" 

"At last I have these English, then !" 
Napoleon proudly cries to those around ; 

Soult knew, and told him, how those men 
Stood rooted to the ground. 



A.D. England's victories. 277 

Now quit thee well, brave Wellington ; 

Europe is all enslaved if thou give way ! 
The fate of millions hangs upon 

Thee and thy host this day. 

All drenched vnth torrents was the ground ; 

The clouded morn was usher'd in with showers ; 
Unbroken by the cannon's sound 

"Waned the long forenoon hours. 

Then, like a bursting thundercloud 

BreakiQg the stillness of some peaceful vale, 

The bellowing cannon, pealing loud, 
Hurls forth its deadly hail. 

The fight began at Hougomont, 

Thus masking an attack upon La Haye ; 

But struggles deadly, fierce, and long, 
Saw Hougomont that day. 

How it was taken — and again 

In part at times retaken o'er and o'er — 

Its shatter' d walls, and heaps of slain, 
Their ghastly witness bore. 

'Twas noon, and now the British left 
Became the object of a fierce attack ; 

The foremost line at once was cleft. 
And quickly driven back. 

1^0 Englishmen were they indeed, 

Who at that point were station' d in the front ; 

But foreign troops, who fail'd at need 
To stand the fearful brunt. 



A.D. 



278 



EPITOME OF UNIVERSAL HISTOET. 



Indeed, of Wellington's whole host, 

Sixty- eight thousand strong at "Waterloo, 

Twenty-four thousand, at the most, 
Were Britons good and true. 

Of German troops, a motley mass, 

Some two and twenty thousand men had he ; 
And some of these none could surpass 

In steady bravery. 

But eighteen thousand Belgians bold 

Were worse than useless to the Duke that day ; 
They, as we have already told, 

Soon broke and ran away. 

On the victorious Frenchmen go ; 

But Britons in the second line they find, 
Who, charging hotly, drive the foe 

Like chaff before the wind. 

'Twas the last charge brave Picton led. 

" Charge, charge, hurrah !" the noble hero cries ; 
A bullet strikes him through the head. 

And Picton falls, and dies. 

Then, dashing forth, the British horse 

Pursue the routed columns down the incline ; 

Nor pause, until in headlong course 
They reach Napoleon's line. 

There with the Frenchmen's guns they meet ; 

Forty all useless for the fight are made ; 
When lo ! they find their own retreat 

Too long has been delay'd. 



A.D. 



ENGLAND S VICTORIES. 



279 



Fresli squadrons down upon them bear, 

Forcing them back by their resistless weight ; 

And these pursuing squadrons share 
In turn the self-same fate. 

The Prussians should have join'd by one. 

What if the promised aid should come too late ? 
Blucher did all that could be done, 

With roads in such a state. 

Napoleon's eye soon fell upon 

Dark masses, half by distant woods conceal'd : 
He felt the battle must be won 

Ere Blucher reached the field. 

Full soon a fresh attack he sends 

Against the centre of the British line : 

Yet vainly thus his strength he spends, 
And foiled is his design. 

Sternly their ground the British keep 

'Grainst horse and foot combined ; then, with a 
will. 

Charging both horse and foot, they sweep 
Them routed down the hill. 

And when, the fierce attack to crown. 

The helm'd and mail-clad cavalry advance, 

The Life Guards charge, and trample dovni 
The Cuirassiers of France. 

Napoleon then, to crush the foe. 

Hurls forth his splendid cavalry, en masse ; 
See ! dashing up the slope they go, 

Now o'er the ridge they pass ; 



A.D. 



280 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTOET. 



But stern, unbroken squares they meet, 

The deadly volleys from whose serried ranks 

Pour forth destruction and defeat ; 
Then, on their shattered flanks 

Burst forth the gallant British horse, 

Charging them oft and fiercely ; till, at length, 

Seeing how thus he wastes his force, 
The Duke reserves his strength. 

Then, for a while, in vaunting pride. 
Unmet, save by the bullets' deadly hail. 

Around the squares the Frenchmen ride, 
But all their onsets fail. 

The fight waned on from hour to hour. 
The mighty conqueror was all at fault ; 

He felt that he but wasted power 
By every vain assault. 

Part of the Prussians (Bulow's corps) 

Beached Planchenoit, down on Napoleon's right; 

And carried it, at half-past four, 
After a stubborn fight. 

But fresh battalions of the Guard 

Into the trembling scale Napoleon cast ; 

And Bulow's corps, still fighting hard, 
Was beaten back at last. 

But Blucher is approaching fast ; 

'Tis seven o'clock — his guns are plainly heard; 
The grand attack, Napoleon's last, 

No more may be deferred. 



A.D. 



ENGLAND S VICTORIES. 



281 



On every ridge, on every mound, 

Wiiere guns could possibly be brougbt to bear, 
Terrific cannonades resound, 

Tlie onset to prepare. 

The Duke stood calmly near a tree. 

Whose branches crashed beneath the iron rain : 
" They fire much better novs^," said he, 

" Than formerly in Spain." 

Calm, but with anxious care, he placed 

Each thinned battalion, each diminished troop : 

Full well the coming storm he traced 
That on his line shall swoop. 

The famed Imperial Guard, the pride, 

The glory, and the boast of warlike France, 

Which oft had turned a battle's tide, 
Is ordered to advance. 

See ! in two columns close they form ; 

Now bravely they advance adown the slope ; 
Now up the hill the columns swarm, 

With Britain's sons to cope. 

" Up, Guards, and at them !" was the word; 

Loud through the ranks it rang ; 
The British Guards that signal heard ; 

Up to their feet they sprang : 

Their levelled muskets rent the air 

With volleys close and low : 
Then, like a lion from his lair, 

They rush'd upon the foe ! 



A.D. 



282 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTORY. 



Who could withstand the fearful shock ? 

Down on the French they sweep : 
Like fragments of some shattered rock, 

They hurl them down the steep. 

See, see ! the second column now 
Streams fiercely up the height : 

See, the dark mass has reached the brow, 
More to the English right. 

The British, starting from the ground, 

Converge upon the mass. 
And pouring in a deadly round. 

They mow them down like grass. 

Down, down they rush in hopeless flight, 

And Vandeleur completes. 
With Vivian, charging on the right, 

This direst of defeats. 

Then he who never had been known 

Before the foe to quail. 
Seeing his famous Gruard o'erthrown, 

Exclaims, all deadly pale : 

" The Gruard recoils, all, all, is lost !" 
'Now " Sauve qui pent !" he cries ; 

And, midst a wild and routed host, 
Forth from the field he flies. 

'Twas nearly eight, when Wellington, 
With keen and watchful glance 

Saw that the victory was won, 
And ordered an advance. 



A.D. England's victoeies. 283 

In one long line the Britisli stride 

Down that Aceldama ; 
Their routed foes on every side 

Breaking and giving way, — 

Though here and there some valiant band 

Refuses to retreat ; 
Preferring, in a hopeless stand, 

A soldier's death to meet. 

Meanwhile the Prussians were engaged 

At Planchenoit again ; 
Where fiercely now the battle raged, 

And, this time, not in vain. 

And when the Guard, by numbers crush'd, 

Were fairly driven out, 
Onward the conqu'ring Prussians rush'd, 

Completing thus the rout. 

The day was done, the fight was won ; 

The weary sun had set ; 
When Biucher and brave Wellington 

IS^ear Belle Alliance met. 

The British, wearied with the fight. 

There on the field remained ; 
The Prussian horse, throughout the night, 

A hot pursuit maintained. 

N'o greater battle e'er was fought ; 

No greater victory 
Was ever gained, for this was fraught 

With peace and liberty. 



A.D. 



284 



EPITOME OF UNIVEESAL HISTOEY. 



And not to Wellington alone 
Was tliat day's triumph, due ; 

Erothers in arms, the Prussians own 
A share in Waterloo. 



Yet 'twas his masterly design, 

On his own chosen ground. 
Thus with the Prussians to combine : 

And when, at last, he found 

Their march delayed, the glorious stand 
Which, hour by hour, he made 

With troops like those at his command, 
His mighty skill displayed. 

Thus Wellington the scourge destroy' d. 
That plunged the world in tears ; 

And Europe, thro' his sword, enjoy 'd 
Repose for forty years. 



126. THE STATESMAN. 

A few short lines may serve to tell 
All that demands a notice here 

Of those events which yet befel 
Throughout the rest of his career. 

Loaded with honours, wealth, and fame, 
The Duke began, at forty-six, 

A more important part to claim 
In our domestic politics. 



A.D. 



England's victories. 



285 



Some tlunk liis foresiglit and liis skill 

In politics by no means great ; 
Though he was often called to fill 

The highest offices of State. 

The Duke avowed himself a foe 
To progress, to reform, or change ; 

And feared in each a deadly blow 

To England's greatness ; yet, most strange, 

He was the very man, in fact. 

Who, ere his long career had closed, 

Passed more than one important Act 
To which he once had been opposed. 

Men differ ; some great weakness find 
In changing thus about ; while some 

Think that it shows true strength of mind. 
To change when time for change has come. 

At times the fickle populace 

In senseless acts their anger showed ; 
Forgetting, to their own disgrace. 

What England to his prowess owed. 

Full oft the hero they assail'd, 

And not alone with angry groans ; 

But he who ne'er at bullets quail' d. 
Smiled sternly at a show'r of stones. 

But this excitement had its day ; 

The wished for laws the people gain'd ; 
Their fleeting fiiry passed away, — 

Respect and love alone remain' d. 



A.D. 



286 



EPITOME OF UNIYEESAL HISTORY. 



Sept. 14,1852, 



And time wore on, and silvered o'er 
That well-known front with, hoary age ; 

And England ever more and more, 
Revered the warrior and the sage, 

Whom empty glory's flatt'ring call, 
In peace or war had never sway'd : 

Duty to him was all in all. 
Her call he never disobey' d. 

At length, amid a nation's tears, 

His country's boast, his country's pride, 

Honoured by all, and full of years, 
In peace this famous hero died. 



CONCLUSION. 287 



CONOLIJSION. 

"When, in our thirst for knowledge, 

Full narrowly we scan, 
Beneath the wondrous microscope, 

The handywork of man, — 
Well may our hearts be humbled, 

Well may we start and pause, 
To find, where all seem'd fair before, 

Foul blotches, gaps, and flaws. 

But let us place a flow'ret, 

A leaf, a blade of grass. 
Or aught that came from God's own hand, 

Beneath the searching glass ; 
Wonder and admiration 

Now fill the heart and mind : 
The more we scan His work, the more 

Perfection there we find. 



The Prophet stands upon his watch ; 

He sets him on the tow'r, 
For, lo ! Jehovah had proclaim'd 

Judah's approaching hour. 



288 CONCLUSION. 



What ! shall Chaldea's godless sons, 
So stain' d with blood and lust, 

Trample upon God's chosen race, 
And lay it in the dust ? 

Ay, even so. Proud Babylon 

Shall be the instrument 
Of great Jehovah's fearful wrath 

On stubborn Judah spent. 

Tet, for no righteousness of hers, 

Is Babylon employ' d ; 
Full soon that godless Babylon 

Shall be herself destroy'd. 



And then the Prophet tremblingly 
Grod's righteousness descried ; 

And own'd, in all His wondrous ways. 
His wisdom justified. 



And thus in history's eventful page 

We see vast, mighty empires rise and fall ; 

And, though we may not always trace the cause, 

Tet we shall mark one great, prevailing truth. 

In nations, as in individuals. 

Depravity and sin full surely bring 

At last stern retribution and a fall. 

Some in wild desolation suddenly 

Become o'erwhelm'd, like a calm earthly scene 



CONCLUSION. 289 



Beneath the crashing avalanche ; and some 

Silently, like a fair dissolving view, 

Change imperceptibly, we mark not how. 

Or when ; until at length before our eyes 

A picture stands, in which no trace remains 

Of what was there before. 

Assyria, Persia, Ancient Greece and Rome, 

Byzantium, and the Empire of the West, 

The long, long line of Egypt's dynasties, 

The sway of Attila, who swept the world. 

From Asia to the sunny plains of France, 

Proud Carthage, and the Saracenic power. 

And then the Ottoman supremacy, 

The conquests of the savage Tartar kings, 

The might of Venice and of Genoa, 

And Spain, — as once she was, but is no more, — 

Charlemagne's great empire, and in recent days 

That which I^apoleon conquer' d by the sword, — 

Where are they now ? All, all have pass'd away ; 

And as in Nature's marvellous domain. 

The falling leaf, decay, and death itself. 

Are but the sources of new forms of life, 

So from the ruins of these mighty realms 

Others have sprung, and lived, and fall'n in turn. 

What ! and shall Britain too, so prosperous 

And favoured now, our own dear native land. 

Shall Britain fall like them ? It may be so. 

Has she not sins that might fall well provoke 

The wrath of Him who is of purer eyes 

Than to behold iniquity ? Mark well 

How Mammon-worship, and intemperance, 

And pride of heart, stand out in dark relief 

IT 



290 CONCLUSION. 



In ev'ry daily clironicle that tells 

Of all the doings of tlie nation's life. 

What then shall save us from the common fate 

Of this world's empires ? There is yet a hope. 

The blessings God has show'red upon the land, — 

Although His visitations chasten it 

From time to time, — seem all to tell aloud 

Of favour found on high. A light is ours, 

To keep us in the wholesome fear of God, 

Such as no nation e'er enjoyed of old ; 

And if, indeed, our great prosperity 

Is based on better, purer, holier things, 

Than those on which past, fallen monarchies 

Kose into pow'r, it yet may be His wiU 

To keep us from a future fall like theirs. 

Let us then hope that, guided by His word, 

Britain m.ay still find favour in His sight ; 

And when her trials come, there may be found 

Amongst her sons thousands who have not bowed 

The knee to Baal ; that His searching eye. 

Amidst ungodly myriads yet may find 

More than the ten whose righteousness would 

once 
Have saved the sinful Cities of the Plain. 
Say, art thou one like them ? If thou art not. 
If thine own heart condemns thee — pause and 

think : — 
Thou mayst be one of those whose fervent prayer. 
Offer' d in faith, and through the only Way, 
May yet avert sore judgments hanging o'er 
Thy native land. A glorious privilege. 
Unknown indeed to thee and all on earth, 



CONCLUSION. 291 



But mark'd perchance by that augelic host, 

Hov'ring around us though invisible, 

To whom He gives the charge to bear us up 

And keep us here in all our ways ; who watch 

The fitful changes of this nether world ; 

And marvel at, and praise in heavenly songs, 

As we perhaps may marvel at and praise 

Hereafter, those unsearchable decrees. 

Wise, holy, just, and merciful, and true. 

By which, from its creation to the close 

Of all things earthly, Grod controls the world. 



INDEX. 



A. 

Abderralamaiij 113, 114, 
Abel, o. 

Abercromby, 235. 
AbouMr, 190. 
Abrabam, 3, 8. 
Abubeker, 112. 
Acre, 132, 133, 190. 
Actimn, 89. 
Adam, 3. 

JEgos Potamos, 39. 
^mibamis, 81. 
^neas, 65. 
-i5]scbylus, 59. 
^tius, 107. 
Agesilaus, 43, 44. 
Agincoiirt, 136. 
Agrarian Law, 82. 
Agricola, 99. 
Ahasuerus, 20. 
Aix-la-Chapelle, Treaty, 

157. 
Alaric, 89, 104. 
Alba Longa, 66, 6S. 
Albigenses, 144, 
Alboin, 110. 
Albuera, 266. 
Alcibiades, 37^ — 41. 
Alexander, 52 et seq. 
Alexandria, 55. 
Alexandrine Library, 116. 
Alfred, 121, 200. 
Algiers, 260. 
Alma, 236. 
Ambrose, 123, 144. 
America discovered, 177. 
Independence 

of, 165—168. 



Amphictyons, 51. 
AmpbipoKs, 37, 49. 
Ampbissa, 51. 
Amnlius, 66. 
Anacreon, 59. 
Ancus, M. 18, 68. 
Anne, Queen, 227. 
Anscbar, 121, 
Antalcidas, Treaty, 44. 
Antigonus, 58. 
Antipater, 58. 
Antoninus Pius, 91. 
Antony, M. 88, 89. 
ApeUes, 59. 
Appius CI. 73. 
Arbaces, 21. 
Arbela, 17, 24, 55. 
Arcadius, 103. 
Arginusse, 39. 
Arcbidamus II, 36, 
IIL48, 



Arcbimedes, 59, 80, 
Arcbons, 29. 
Areola, 189. 
Arcot, 175. 
Argos, 34. 
Ariosto, 171. 
Aristodemus, 35. 
Aristomenes, 35. 
Aristopbanes, 59. 
Aristotle, 59. 
Arius, 102, 
Armada, 240. 
Artbur, King, 107. 

of Brittany, 214, 

Ascalon, 130, 132. 
Asdrubal, 79, 
Asbdown, 121, 200. 
Asiatic conquest, 172. 



Assaye, 235. 
Assbur, 7, 21. 
Assizes, Bloody, 225. 
Assyria, First Empire, 7, 
20, 21. 
Second Empire, 



21. 

Atbanasius, 102, 143. 
Atbeling, 202, 
Atbens,"Early Times, 28. 

Burnt, 31, 

Plague at, 36, 

Siege of, 39. 



Attic K"ings, 
Attila, 89, 104, 107. 
Augsburg Diet, 152, 

Confession,152. 



Augustine, 108, 199. 

of Hippo, 106, 



143, 

Augustulus, 90. 
Augustus, 89. 
AureHan, 100. 
Aurungzebe, 175. 
Austerbtz, 192. 
Australia discovered, 178. 



B. 

Babel, 6. 

Babylon, 7, 16, 21, 22. 
Badajos, 267. 
Bagdad, 115. 
Bajazet, 175. 
BaUol, 215. 
Bannockbum, 215. 
Barrossa, 266. 
BastHe, 182. 



294 


INDEXi 


Bautzen, 193. 


Campo Formio, Treaty 


Claudius 198. 


Bede, 143. 


of,189._ 


Clearchus, 42. 


Belisarius, 109. 


Canada discovered, 177. 


Cleombrotus, 45. 


Belsliazzar, 22. 


Cannse, 79. 


Cleon, 37. 


Beneventum, 76. 


Canute, 202. 


Cleopatra, 87—89. 


Bereuger, 144. 


Cape of Good Hope, 177. 


CHve, 175. 


Bible printed, 139. 
English, 145. 


C4- Vinrnnf '^A^ 


ninvi<5 105 


Caractacus, 198. 


V^iUVlO, J.UU. 

Cnidus, 44. 


- — Luther's, 151. 


Carlovingians, 114. 


Cobham, Lord, 145. 


Bidassoa, 270. 


Carthage, 65, 77. 


Codes, 71. 


Blenlieim, 227. 


Caswallon, 197. 


Columba, 113, 143. 


Bluclaer, 273. 


Catherine de Med. 153. 


Columbus, 177. 


Boadicea, 99. 


Catiline 85. 


Conde, 157, 


Borodino, 193. 


Caxton, 140. 


Confucius, 173. 


Bosworth Field, 218. 


Cecrops, 28, 


Conon, 44. 


Bougainville, 178. 


Censors, 74. 


Constantine, 89, 108. 


Boyne, 227. 


Chseronea, 51. 


Constantinople, 103, 109, 


Bradby, 145. 


Chalcedon Council, 106. 


110, 169. 


Brandywine, 166. 


Chalons, 104, 107. 


Constituent Assembly, 


Brasidas, 37. 


Charlemagne, 115 et seq. 


183. 


Brennus, 75. 


Charles I. of England, 


Consulate, 190. 


Britain, invaded by : 


221, 229. 


Consuls, 71. 


Romans, 197. 


11. of England, 


Cook, 178. 


Saxons, 198. 


223. 


Copenhagen (1801), 251. 


Danes, 201. 


II. of Spain, 159. 


(1^07) ^^55 




Nornians, 203. 


VI. of France, 


Corcyra, 33. 


Cliristianity in, 99, 


136. 


Cordova, 115. 


108. 


VII. of France, 


Coriolanus, 72. 


Broke, 257. 


137. 


CornwaUis, 166. 


Bruce, 215. 


IX. of France, 


Coronea, 44. 


Brueys 249. 


153. 


Cortez, 240. 


Brutus, L.J. 71. 


XII. of Sweden, 


Cranmer, 220. 


~\/r^-^^-.-.,^ QT 


162, 164. 
Y. Emperor, 152, 


Crassus, 85, 86. 
Cressy, 216. 


Bunker's Hill, 166. 


Busaco, 265. 


220. 


Cromwell, Oliver, 223. 


Byzantium (or Constanti- 


Martel, 114, 116. 


Richard, 223. 


nople), 103, 109,110,169. 


Childerie, 114. 
Chiozza, 169. 


Crusades, 129 et seq. 

n _i? t nn 






Chosroes, 110. 


Pp„--1j.^ ^f -| oo 




C. 


Christianity, spread of, 


134. 




96, 121, 124. 


CuUoden, 229. 


Cabot, 177. 


Chrysostom, 106, 143. 


Cunaxa, 42. 


Cabral, 177. 


Churches, East and West, 


Curtius, M., 76. 


Cadmus, 27. 


106. 


Cyaxares, I. 22. 


Caesar, 85 et seq. 197. 


Cicero, 85, 88. 


Cyrus, 15, 22, 42. 


Cain, 5. 


Cimbri, 83. 


the Younger, 42. 


Calais, 137. 


Cimon, 32. 




Calvin, 220. 


Cincinnatus, 72. 


D. 


Cambray, League of, 170. 


Cintra, Convention, 264. 




Cambyses, 23. 


Ciudad Eodrigo, 267. 


Dandolo, 169. 


Camilius, 74. 


Claude of Turin, 122,123, 


Daniel, Four "Kingdoms 


Camperdown, 247. 


144. 


of, 20 et seq. 



INDEX. 



295 



Dante, 171. 

Darius, Cyaxares II. 19. 

Hystaspes, 20, 23. 

Notlius, 20. 

Codomannus, 20, 

23, 54. 

David, 11. 

Deborah, 11. 

Decemvirs, 73. 

De Grasse, 241. 

Deluge, 6. 

Denaostlieiies (Orator) ,51. 

(General), 

37, 38. 
De Winter, 247, 248. 
Didius Julianus, 99. 
Dido, 65. 
Directory, 188. 
Discovery, 176 et seq. 
Dispensations to Man, 4. 
Dispersion of Man, 6. 
Doria A, 169. 
Dorian Conquest, 34. 
Douro, 264. 
Draco, 18, 29. 
Drake, 240. 
Druids, 98. 
Du Guesclin, 217. 
Duncan, 247. 
Dunstan, 201. 



Echalar, 269. 
Edessa, 49. 
Edgar, 200. 
EdgehiU, 222. 
Edmund, 200. 

Ironside, 202. 

Edred, 200. 

Edward tlie Elder, 200. 

Mart3T, 201. 

Confessor, 

202. 
1, of England, 

143, 215. 
II. of England, 

216. 
III. of England, 

217. 
IV. of England, 

218. 



Edward lY. of England, 
220. 
the Black Prince, 



216. 
Edwin, 200. 
Egbert, 121, 199. 
Egypt, 172, 190. 
Ehud, 11. 
Elba, 272. 
Eh, 11. 
Elijah, 13. 
Ehsha, 14. 
Ehzabeth, Queen, 221. 

of York, 219. 



Enoch, 5. 
Epaminondas, 46 — 48. 
Ephesus, Council, 106. 
Esarhaddon, 22. 
Esther, 20. 
Ethelbald, 199. 
Ethelbert, 107, 198, 199. 
Ethelred, 199. 

Um-eady, 201. 



Ethelstane, 200. 
Ethelwolf, 199. 
Eubcea, 32. 
Eugene, 162. 
Eumenes, 58. 
Euripides, 59. 
Evesham, 215. 
Evil-Merodach, 22. 
Exmouth, 260. 
Eylau, 192. 



F. 

Fabius Maximus, 79. 
Falkirk, 215. 
FaU of Man, 5. 
Faust, 139. 
Ferdinand II. 155. 
France, Monarchy, 105. 

Eepubhc, 186. 

Consulate, 190. 

Empire, 191. 



Franks, 100, 119. 
Frederick the Great, 165. 

Wise, 147 

et seq. 

Elector Pala- 



Friedland, 192. 
Frobisher, MO. 
Fuentes d'Onore, 266. 



G. 

Garter, Order of, 217. 

Gaza, 55. 

Ghengis Khan, 163, 173. 

Genoa, 169. 

Genseric, 89, 105. 

George I. 228_. 

German Empire elective, 

123, 124. 
Geta 91. 

Gibraltar, 161, 235. 
Gideon, 11. 
Godfrey, 130. 
Gordium, 54. 
Goths, 89, 100, 104. 
Gracchi, 102. 
Granicus, 23, 54. 
Grecian Empire, 23. 
Greece, Illustrious Men 
of, 59, 60. 
Fate of, 58. 



Guise, Due de, 153. 
Gunpowder, 216. 
Gustavus, Adolphus, 156, 

163. 
Vasa, 151, 163, 



Gutenberg, 139. 



H. 



Ham, 7. 

Hannibal, 78, 80. 
Hardicanute, 202. 
Hai-fleur, 136. 
Harmodius, 30. 
Harold, 202. 

Harefoot, 202. 



tine, 155. 



Haroun Alraschid, 119. 
Hastings, 203. 
Hatichs, 178. 
Hawkins, 240. 
Hegira, 116. 
Hengist, 105, 198. 
Hem-y the Fowler, 124. 
I. of England, 212. 



296 



INDEX. 



Henry II. of EBgland, 213. 
III. of England, 

214 
IT. of England, 

218. 

Y. of England, 135. 

YI. of England, 

136. 
YII. of England, 

219. 
YIIL of England, 

219, 220. 

III. of France, 153, 

lY. of France, 153. 

Heptarchy, 107, 198. 
Heraclea, 77. 
Heraclidse, 34. 
Heraclius, 111. 
Hermann, 98. 
Herodotus, 59. 
Hezekiah, 13, 22. 
Hiero, 77. 
Hipparclius, 30. 
Hippins, 18, 30. 
Homer, 30, 59. 
Honorius, 103. 
Hood, 242. 
Hooper, 220. 
Horatii, 68. 
Horn, Cape, 178. 
Hoshea, 14. 
Howard, 240. 
Howe, 243. 
Hnns, 104, 173. 

checked, 104, 124. 

Hundred Days, 194. 
Huss, 145, 220. 



I. 

Iconoclasts, 114. 
InfaUibHity, 106. 
Inkerman, 236. 
Innocent III. 144. 
Inquisition, 144. 
Ira, 35. 
Isaac, 9. 
Isaiah, 14. 
Israel in Egypt, 9. 

Eevoltof, 13. 

Captivity, 14. 



Issus, 23, 54. 
Italy, 168. 
Ithome, 35. 
Ivan III. 163. 



J. 



Jacob, 9. 

James I. 228. 

II. 161, 221, 224, 



et seq. 230. 
Japheth, 6. 
Jason, 27. 
of Thrace, 46. 



Jeffreys, 225. 
Jena, 192. 
Jephthah, 11, 65. 
Jerusalem, 54. 

taken, 15, 85, 

110, 130. 
destroyed, 16, 



Jerome of Prague, 145. 
Jervis, 246. 
Jesuits, 154. 
Jews, Eevolt of, 99. 
Jezebel, 65. 
Joan of Ai-c, 137. 
John, 214. 
Joseph, 9. 
Josephine, 193. 
Joshua, 10. 
Judah, 13—16. 

Captivity, 14. 

JudasMaccabeus, 15. 
Judges, 10. 
Jugurtha, 83. 
Juhan, 103. 
Justinian, 108. 



Ken, 226. 
Khyber Pass, 234. 
Knox, 220. 
Koran, 111. 

L. 

Lartius, 71. 
Laswarree, 235. 



Latimer, 220. 
LawsofXII. Tables, 73. 
Legislative Assembly,183. 
Leipsic, Battle, 156, 193. 

Disputations, 

149. 
Leo X. 147, 148, 220. 
Leonidas, 31. 
Lepidus, 88. 
Leuctra, 46. 
Leuthen, 165. 
Lewes, 214. 
Ligny, 273. 
Lincoln, 213. 
LleweUyn, 215. 
Lodi, 189. 
LoHards, 145, 219. 
Lombards, 110, 115. 
Longinus, 100. 
Lorenzo di Medicis, 170. 
Louis YII. of France, 

131. 
IX. of France, 133, 

143, 214. 
XIY. of France, 

157 et seq. 
XYI. of France, 

179 et seq. 
XYII. of France, 



187. 
Loyola, 154. 
Luther, 146 et seq. 220. 
Lutzen, 156, 193. 
Lycurgus, 18, 34. 
Lysander, 39. 
Lysimachus, 58. 



M. 

Macedonia, 83. 
Magdeburg, 156. 
Magellan, 178. 
Magna Charta, 229. 
Mahomet, 111, 116. 
Malplaquet, 227. 
Mantinsea, 48. 
Marathon, 16, 23, 30. 
Marcellus, 79, 80. 
Marco Polo, 177. 
Marcus Aurehus, 91. 
Mardonius, 31. 



INDEX. 



297 



Marengo, 190. 
Maria-Louisa, 193. 
Marie-Antoinette, 183 et 

seq. 
Marius, 83, 84. 
Marlborough, 227. 
Marston Moor, 222. 
Mary, Queen, 220. 
Masinissa, 81. 
Massena, 265. 
Matthias, 155. 
Maude, 212. 

Maurice of Saxony, 154. 
Maximilian of Bavaria, 

155. 
Medo-Persian Empire, 22. 
Melancthon, 149, 152, 220. 
Melos, 38, 
Merovic, 105. 
Messenian Wars, 35. 
Metaurus, 79. 
Methone, 18. 
Methuselah, 5. 
Mexico, 240. 
Michael Angelo, 170. 
Millesimo, 189. 
Miltiades, 23, 30. 
Mirabeau, 181. 
Mithridates, 84, 85. 
Mizraim, 172. 
Mondego Bay, 264. 
Monmouth's Rebellion, 

225. 
Montenotte, 189. 
Montfort, De, 214, 229. 
Montjuich, 161, 235. 
Moses, 9, 10. 
Miihlhausen, 154. 
Mycale, 32. 
Mytilene, 37. 



N. 

Nabuchodonosor, 22. 
Najara, 217. 
Napoleon, 189 et seq. 
Narses, 109. 
Narva, 162—164. 
Naseby, 222. 
National Assembly, 181. 
Convention, 186, 



Nebuchadnezzar, 14, 22. 
Necker, 180. 
Nehemiah, 15. 
Nelson, 246 et seq. 
Nero (Consul), 79. 
Nerva, 91. 
Nestorius, 106, 143. 
Nevsky, Alexander, 163. 
New South Wales disco- 
vered, 178. 
Ney, 274. 
Nice Council, 102. 
Nicias, 37, 38. 

Peace of, 37. 



Nile, 190, 248. 
Nimeguen Treaty, 157. 
Nimrod, 7. 
Nineveh Founded, 7, 21. 

Destroyed, 20; 

22. 
Battle of. 111. 



Ninus, 7, 21. 
Nive, 270. 
NiveUe, 270. 
Noah, 3, 5, 6. 
Nordlingen, 156. 
Normans, 120, 124. 
Northern Coalition, 251. 
Northmen, 120. 
Notables, Convention of, 

180. 
Notium, 41. 
Numa Pompilius, 68. 
Numitor, 66. 



O. 

Octavius, 88, 89. 
Odoacer, 90, 105. 
OHnthus, 45. 
Omar, 112. 
Onomarchus, 50. 
Orestes, 90. 
Orleans, 137. 
Duke of, 181. 



Orthes, 271. 
Ostrogoths, 109. 
Othuiel, 11. 
Otho, 124. 
Oudenarde, 227. 
Oxford Parliament, 214. 



P. 

Palmyra, 100. 
Paris, 105. 

taken, 193. 

Passau, Peace of, 154. 
Patriarchs, 5. 
Paulicians, 144. 
PauHnus, 144. 
Pausanias, 31, 32. 
Pelagius, 105. 
Peloponnesian Wars, 36, 
Peninsula War, 263 etseq. 
Pepin, 114, 115. 
Pericles, 17, 31 et seq. 
Persecutions, 98, 99, 100. 
Persepolis, 55. 

Peru, 240. 

Peter the Great, 162, 163. 

III. of Eussia, 165. 

the Cruel, 217. 

Hermit, 129. 



Peterborough, 161. 
Phamabasus, 44. 
Pharaoh, 9. 
Pharsaha, 87. 
Phidias, 59. 
Philadelphia, 166. 
Philip of Macedon, 17, 
48 et seq. 

lY. of Spain, 159. 

V. of Spain, 160, 

162. 
IY.ofrraiice,143. 



Phihppi, 88. 
Philomelus, 50. 
Phocis, 50. 
Phoebidas, 45. 
Pindar, 59. 
Pisander, 44. 
Pisistratus, 18, 29. 
Pisistratidae, 30. 
Pizarro, 240. 
Plague of London, 223. 
Plassy, 175. 
Platsea, 31, 33, 36. 
Plato, 59. 
Poictiers, 217. 
Poland, 123. 
Pompey, 85, et seq. 
Popes, so-caUed, 106. 



298 



INDEX. 



Pope's Temporal Supre- 
macy, 109. 

Porsena, 71. 

Porus, 56. 

Potidsea, 33. 

Pragmatic Sanction, 143. 

Prague, 155. 

Praxiteles, 59. 

Preston Pans, 229. 

Pretender, Old, 228. 

Young, 227, 

229. 

Printing, 138. 

Promised Seed, 5, 8, 97. 

Protogenes, 59. 

Ptolemy Lagus, 58. 

PubHcola, 71. 

Pul, 21. 

Pultowa, 162—164. 

Punic Wars, 77 et seq. 

Pylus, 37. 

Pyramids, 190. 

Pyrenees, 269. 

Pyrrhus, 76. 

Pythagoras, 59. 



Q. 

Quatre-Bras, 272. 

R. 

Eaffaelle, 170. 
Ealeigh, 240. 
Eamillies, 227. 
Ratisbon Diet, 154. 
Red Sea, 10. 
Reformation, 140—152. 

• in England, 

219. 

in otber 

countries, 151, 152. 
Regillus, 71. 
Regulus, 78. 
Relioboam, 13. 
Reign of Terror, 187. 
Restoration, 223, 
Revolution, France, 179, 

et seq. 
England,227. 



Ridley, 220. 

RivoH, 189. 

Robespierre, 181, 187. 

Rodney, 241. 

Roliga, 264. 

RoUo, 120. 

Rome, Founded, 67. 

Kings of, 67. 

Emperors of, 90. 

Empire divided, 
103. 

inroads on, 103, 
104. 

sacked, 104. 

FaU of, 105. 



Richard I. 132, 213. 
■11. 218. 
III. 218. 



Romulus, 66, 68. 
Roncesvalles, 269. 
Rossbacb, 165. 
Roses, Wars of, 217. 
Rousseau, 180. 
Roxana, 56. 
Rudolph, 154. 
Ruric, 121, 163. 
Russia, Monarchy, 121, 
163. 
Christianity in. 



124. 

RusseU, Lord W. 224. 
Rye House Plot, 224. 
Ryswick, Treaty of, 158. 



S. 

Sacred War, 50. 
Saguntum, 79. 
Saladin, 131. 
Salamanca, 267. 
Salamis, 16, 23, 31.* 
Samnites, 76. 
Samos, 32. 
Samson, 11. 
Samuel, 11. 
Bancroft, 226. 
Sappho, 59. 
Saracens, conquests, 113, 

et seq. 173. 
checked, 113, 



Saratoga, 166. 
Sardanapalus, 20. 
Saul, 11. 
Savonarola, 145. 
Sawtre, 145, 
Scsevola, 71. 
Schoeffer, 139. 
Schoutens, 178. 
Scipio, 79. 
S?dgemoor, 225. 
Seleucus, 58. 
Seljuk, 129. 
Semiramis, 21. 
Sennacherib, 22. 
Seringapatam, 262. 
Servius Tullius, 18, 68. 
Seth, 5. 

Settlement, Acts of, 227. 
Seven Bishops, 226. 

Years' War, 165. 



117. 



Severus, 100. 
Shalmaneser, 14, 22, 
Shamgar, 11. 
Shannon and Chesapeake, 

256. 
Shem, 6. 
Sicyon, 34. 

Sidney, Algernon, 224. 
Silesia, 165. 

Smalcalde, League, 152. 
Smerdis, 23. 
Socrates, 59. 
Solomon, 3, 11. 
Solon, 18, 29. 
Sophocles, 32, 59. 
Soraoren, 269. 
Soult, 264. 

Spain conquered, 83, 113. 
Spanish Succession, 159. 
Sparta, 33. 

invasion of, 47, 48. 



Spartacus, 85. 

St. Bartholomew, 153. 

St. Pierre, 270. 

St. Vincent, 245. 

Stamford Bridge, 204. 

States- General, 143,180. 

Statira, 57. 

Stephen, 212. 

Stilicho, 103, 

Succat, 143. 

Suetonius, 98. 



INDEX. 



299 



Superstitions, 125. 
Sweden, Christianity in, 
121. 

Liberation, 163. 

Reformation, 

151. 
Sweyn, 201. 
SyUa, 84. 
Syracuse, 38, 80. 
Syria conquered by Rome, 

80. 
Tui'ks, 

130. 



Talavera, 265 
Tamerlane, 174. 
Tarentine War, 76. 
Tarquin, Priscus, 68. 

Superbus,18,69. 

Tasso, 171. 
Tearless Battle, 48. 
Temple, Ded. of, 3, 12. 

• Second, 15. 

Herod's, 15. 

• destroyed. 

Ten Thousand, Retreat of 

the, 42. 
Teutones, 83. 
Tewkesbury, 218. 
Thebes, 45 et seq. 53. 
Themistocles, 23. 
Theodosius, 103. 
Thermopylae, 31. 
Thirty Years' War, 154. 
Thrasybulus, 43. 
Thrasymenus, 79. 
Thucydides, 32, 59. 
Tiberias, 131. 
Ticinus, 79. 
Tiglath Pileser, 22. 
Tigranes, 85. 
TiUy, 156. 
Tilsit, 192^ 
Timour, 174. 
Tissaphernes, 8, 42, 44. 



Titus, 16, 91, 98. 
Tcmyris, 42. 
Torres, 178. 

Vedras, 265. 



Totila, 109. 
Toulouse, 272. 
Tours, 113, 114, 116. 
Trafalgar, 191, 254. 
Trajan, 91, 99. 
Transubstantiation, 122. 
Trebia, 79. 
Trent, Council, 154. 
Tribunes, 72. 

Military, 74. 



Triumvirate, First, 

Second, 88. 



Troy, 29, 65. 
TuUus Hostilius, 68. 
Turenne, 156, 157. 
Turkish Monarchy, 129, 

173. 
Tyre, 54. 

U. 

Uhn, 192. 

Utrecht, Treaty, 158, 162. 



Y. 

Yalentinian, 91, 103. 
Yalens, 103. 
Yalmy, 184. 
Yandals, 89, 105. 
Yarns, 98. 

Yasco de Balboa, 177. 
Gama, 177, 



Yaudois Church, 123, 144. 
Yendome Due de, 162. 
Yenice, 169. 

YersaiUes, Peace of, 167. 
Yespasian, 91. 
Yillaret-Joyeuse, 243. 
Yilleneuve, 254. 
Yimiera, 264. 
Yirginia, 73. 
Yisigoths, 104. 



Yittoria, 268. 
Yladimir, 124, 125, 163. 
Yoltaire, 180. 
Yortigem, 105, 198. 



W. 

Wagram, 193. 
Walcheren, 234. 
Waldenses, 123, 144. 
Waldo, 144. 
Wales, 215. 
Wallace, 215. 
Wallenstein, 156. 
Washington, 166, 
Waterloo, 275. 
Wellington, 261 et seq. 
Westphalia, Treaty of, 

156, 157. 
Wichffe, 145, 219. 
William I. Conqueror, 
202, et seq. 

II. 212. 

III. 157, 227. 



Worms, Diet, 150. 
Edict, 152. 



X. 

Xantippus, 78. 
Xenophon, 42, 59. 
Xerxes, 23. 



Yorktown, 166. 



Z. 

Zama, 80. 
Zenobia, 100. 
Zerubbabel, 15. 
Zeuxis, 59. 
Zorrendorf, 165. 
Zwingle, 151, 220. 



Haebild, Printer, London. 



